Defense Secretary Announces Transgender Troops Policy ‘Will Remain in Place’ Until Experts Complete Study
Mattis Creating New Panel to Study Issue, Allowing Transgender Troops to Continue Serving for Now
Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis has just announced the U.S. military’s policy on transgender troops will not change for now, and service members can continue to serve as before, pending the completion of a new study by experts.
“Once the panel reports its recommendations and following my consultation with the secretary of Homeland Security, I will provide my advice to the president concerning implementation of his policy direction,” Mattis said in a statement Tuesday evening, as USA Today reports. “In the interim, current policy with respect to currently serving members will remain in place.”
Mattis goes on to say he is creating a new panel of experts to study the issue, which is a great way to delay something.
“Our focus must always be on what is best for the military’s combat effectiveness leading to victory on the battlefield,” Mattis’ statement continues. “To that end, I will establish a panel of experts serving within the Departments of Defense and Homeland Security to provide advice and recommendations on the implementation of the president’s direction. Panel members will bring mature experience, most notably in combat and deployed operations, and seasoned judgment to this task. The panel will assemble and thoroughly analyze all pertinent data, quantifiable and non-quantifiable. Further information on the panel will be forthcoming.”
This move cannot be seen as anything but a huge rebuke to President Donald Trump, who more than a month ago announced he was implementing a total ban on transgender service members. The White House on Friday announced guidance that allows Mattis to determine which transgender service members can continue without being expelled from the service, stating “deployability” should be the key factor, along with debunked concepts like unit cohesion.
UPDATE: 8:17 PM EDT –
The ACLU’s Chase Strangio notes that “Surgeries are still being cancelled and reenlistments denied.”
RELATED:
Trump Signs Memo Giving Pentagon Authority to Discharge Transgender Service Members
REPORT: Trump’s Military Transgender Ban Will Use ‘Deployability’ as Factor to Discharge Troops
This is a breaking news and developing story. Details may change. This story will be updated, and NCRM will likely publish follow-up stories on this news. Stay tuned and refresh for updates.
Image by US Dept. of State via Flickr
To comment on this article and other NCRM content, visit our Facebook page.
Enjoy this piece?
… then let us make a small request. The New Civil Rights Movement depends on readers like you to meet our ongoing expenses and continue producing quality progressive journalism. Three Silicon Valley giants consume 70 percent of all online advertising dollars, so we need your help to continue doing what we do.
NCRM is independent. You won’t find mainstream media bias here. From unflinching coverage of religious extremism, to spotlighting efforts to roll back our rights, NCRM continues to speak truth to power. America needs independent voices like NCRM to be sure no one is forgotten.
Every reader contribution, whatever the amount, makes a tremendous difference. Help ensure NCRM remains independent long into the future. Support progressive journalism with a one-time contribution to NCRM, or click here to become a subscriber. Thank you. Click here to donate by check.