Quote:President Trump said Wednesday that the U.S. military will not accept transgender troops into its ranks or allow them to serve in any capacity, reversing a policy begun under the Obama administration.


In a series of morning tweets, Trump said that, after consulting "with my generals and military experts," the U.S. government "will not accept or allow transgender individuals to serve in any capacity in the U.S. Military."

The U.S. military, he said, "must be focused on decisive and overwhelming victory and cannot be burdened with the tremendous medical costs and disruption that transgender in the military would entail."

It’s unclear how the announcement will affect the estimated 6,000 transgender troops now serving. Under the policy announced in July 2016, those troops were allowed to serve openly. Prior to that the military discharged them for medical reasons.

It's also unclear whether a series of tweets constitute a presidential directive, and whether Trump must sign documents to make the new policy effective.

The decision immediately drew criticism from Democratic lawmakers and civil rights advocates.

"The president is sanctioning discrimination," said Sen. Ben Cardin, D-Md., speaking on MSNBC.

On Twitter, Harvard law professor Laurence Tribe said, "this Trump anti-LGBT move is an affront to human dignity and military success. A real twofer."

Under Trump and Defense Secretary Jim Mattis, the Pentagon delayed implementation of a key portion of the Obama administration's plan: requiring the services to being accepting and recruiting new officers and enlisted troops. The Army, Air Force and Marine Corps requested more time to implement the policy, saying they needed time to study the effects of accepting transgender troops.

However, the Pentagon commissioned a report last year by the non-partisan RAND Corp. on transgender troops. Their research found that treating transgender troops would cost as much as $8 million per year and have a negligible effect on the military’s readiness to fight.


Last month, the Army had begun compulsory transgender sensitivity training for soldiers and civilian employees.

Some members of Congress have also tried to limit spending on transgender troops in this year’s legislation authorizing military spending.

On Tuesday, in a statement to USA TODAY, former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Adm. Mike Mullen urged the acceptance of transgender troops by the military, saying that previous policies that prevented gay and lesbian troops from serving damaged the military.

(07-26-2017, 11:17 AM)Millhouse Wrote: I am fine with gays & lesbians serving in the military. But oddly I am ok with this decision though when it comes to Ts & the military.

It also should be noted that Trump is continuing with an Obama order that protects LQBTQwerty workers in the federal workplace. http://www.cnn.com/2017/01/31/politics/lgbt-protections-trump-continues-obama-policy-federal-workers/index.html

(07-26-2017, 11:17 AM)Millhouse Wrote: I am fine with gays & lesbians serving in the military. But oddly I am ok with this decision though when it comes to Ts & the military.

(07-26-2017, 11:17 AM)Millhouse Wrote: It also should be noted that Trump is continuing with an Obama order that protects LQBTQwerty workers in the federal workplace. http://www.cnn.com/2017/01/31/politics/lgbt-protections-trump-continues-obama-policy-federal-workers/index.html

(07-26-2017, 01:28 PM)Belsnickel Wrote: This is a "we need a win" scenario. That's all. The administration has been impotent for 6 months and this is something they can both hang their hat on and use as a divisive issue to take attention away from health care and the Russia investigation.

(07-26-2017, 02:12 PM)Matt_Crimson Wrote: Why was the ban originally in place?

(07-26-2017, 12:48 PM)GMDino Wrote: I guess I fall with the idea that it is a volunteer military and if they volunteer and can do the job they should be allowed to.

The argument being made that cost has anything to do with it seems odd given the size of the military budget.

(07-26-2017, 06:02 PM)BengalHawk62 Wrote: Looks like he's losing some of his most ardent supporters.  




Well @realDonaldTrump, from one Republican to another, this is a disaster. You made a promise to protect the LGBTQ community. Call me.

— Caitlyn Jenner (@Caitlyn_Jenner)

(07-26-2017, 10:51 AM)GMDino Wrote: Despite studies showing the cost is negligible.

(07-26-2017, 02:45 PM)StLucieBengal Wrote: Good.  The military isn't a place you go to express yourself.

(07-26-2017, 06:31 PM)StLucieBengal Wrote: He can protect the gay community and have some standards in the military at the same time.    the military isn't the place for social justice warriors virtue signaling.