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Joint Chiefs Chairman: no change on transgender troops without Trump order

Jacquelyn Martin / AP

The U.S. will permit transgender people to serve openly in the military until President Trump gives "direction" to Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis to change the policy and determines how it will be implemented, Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Joseph Dunford, wrote in a memo sent to all military service chiefs, commanders, and enlisted military leaders.

The confusion: After Trump's announcement on Twitter Wednesday that transgender troops would not longer be allowed to serve "in any capacity" in the military, it became clear that he took the Pentagon, and currently serving transgender troops, by surprise. The White House later said they didn't know if the announcement would apply to transgender troops currently serving overseas.

Mattis is on vacation, and has been publicly silent on the announcement.

Go deeper

Axios, Shawna Chen
12 hours ago - Politics & Policy

Biden plans to ask public to wear masks for first 100 days in office

Joe Biden. Photo: Mark Makela/Gettu Images

President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris sat down with CNN on Thursday for their first joint interview since the election.

The big picture: In the hour-long segment, the twosome laid out plans for responding to the pandemic, jump-starting the economy and managing the transition of power, among other priorities.

Go deeper (2 min. read)Arrow
Margaret Harding McGill
56 mins ago - Technology

The quick FCC fix that would get more students online

Illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios

As the pandemic forces students out of school, broadband deployment programs aren't going to move fast enough to help families in immediate need of better internet access. But Democrats at the Federal Communications Commission say the incoming Biden administration could put a dent in that digital divide with one fast policy change.

State of play: An existing FCC program known as E-rate provides up to $4 billion for broadband at schools, but Republican FCC chairman Ajit Pai has resisted modifying the program during the pandemic to provide help connecting students at home.

Go deeper (2 min. read)Arrow
Dion Rabouin, author of Markets
58 mins ago - Politics & Policy

America's hidden depression

Biden introduces his pick for Treasury secretary, Janet Yellen, on Dec. 1. Photo: Alex Wong/Getty Images

President-elect Biden faces a fragile recovery that could easily fall apart, as the economy remains in worse shape than most people think.

Why it matters: There is a recovery happening. But it's helping some people immensely and others not at all. And it's that second part that poses a massive risk to the Biden-Harris administration's chance of success.

Go deeper (1 min. read)Arrow