Aug 24, 2017

Trump moving forward with military transgender ban

Dave Lawler

Steve Helber / AP

The Trump administration will soon issue guidance to the Pentagon for how to enforce President Trump's military transgender ban, the Wall Street Journal reports.

  • Secretary Mattis will have 6 months to implement the ban, according to the 2.5 page memo.
  • Transgender recruits will not be admitted, and removal of currently serving transgender troops will be at Mattis' discretion.
  • "Deployability," described by WSJ as "the ability to serve in a war zone, participate in exercises or live for months on a ship," is the legal justification Mattis will use to determine who can and can't serve. The idea that transgender troops are less "deployable" has met with fierce resistance.

Flashback: Trump tweeted on July 26, "The United States Government will not accept or allow....Transgender individuals to serve in any capacity in the U.S. Military," but didn't follow up with a direct order so the ban has not been enforced.

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