General says no transgender policy shift yet

WASHINGTON — Un- moved by President Donald Trump’s proclamation-by-Twitter, top Pentagon leaders declared on Thursday they’ll allow transgender troops to remain in uniform until Defense Secretary Jim Mattis receives an authoritative directive to remove them.

For now, “there will be no modifications” to current policy, Gen. Joseph Dunford, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said in an internal memo to all military service chiefs, commanders and enlisted leaders. That was despite Mr. Trump’s announcement Wednesday on Twitter that he will not “accept or allow” transgender people to serve in the U.S. military.

By late Thursday, the Pentagon still had nothing more to go on than the tweets, which put Mr. Mattis and others in the chain of command in a position of awkward unease, if not paralysis. A commander in chief normally works out policy changes of this magnitude in advance.

Mr. Trump’s tweets drew quick, bipartisan criticism from many lawmakers as well as many military troops and retirees. But social conservatives applauded. Protesters demonstrated in several cities as well as outside the White House.

Gen. Dunford in his memo to the nation’s military leaders said nothing would change until the president’s direction had been received and developed by Mr. Mattis into written“implementation guidance .”

“In the meantime, we will continue to treat all of our personnel with respect,” Gen. Dunford wrote. “As importantly, given the current fight and the challenges we face, we will all remain focused on accomplishing our assigned missions.”

White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said guidance on how to “fully implement this policy” is still to be worked out, and that she thinks the president “was making the announcement of the policy change,” even though no specific shad been worked out.

Ms. Sanders has said Mr. Trump informed Mr. Mattis of his decision after he made it on Tuesday. It was Mr. Trump’s judgment, she said, that transgender individuals are an unacceptable cost and distraction for the military and should not be allowed.

Gen. Dunford reportedly was not aware that Mr. Trump was going to announce the ban.

Gay rights at work

The Justice Department moved to insert itself into a federal case in New York, filing court papers arguing that a major federal civil rights law does not protect employees from discrimination based on sexual orientation, taking a stand against a decision reached under former President Barack Obama.

Sessions unbowed

His loyalty to the boss severely tested but seemingly intacta week of being berated by the president in the most public fashion as weak and ineffective, Attorney General Jeff Sessions said he will stay in the job for as long as Mr. Trump wants him to serve.

Spending bill proceeds

The House passed a $788- billion spending bill that complies with Mr. Trump’s demands to boost the military, reduce clean energy programs and start funding a wall on the U.S.-Mexico border, and also increases funding for veterans’ medical care.

Border tax dropped

The Trump administration and congressional GOP leaders have ditched a controversial border-adjusted tax proposal as part of an effort to present a united front fora broad tax overhaul.

Boy Scouts apologizes

Facing a backlash from parents and former members, Michael Surbaugh, the chief executive of the Boy Scouts of America apologized for political remarks made by Mr. Trump at the organization’s National Jamboree this week.