Breaking: Pentagon To Begin Process Of Ending Ban On Transgender Troops Next Week

The Pentagon on Monday will begin mapping out a plan to end the ban on transgender service members.

On Monday, top officials from the Pentagon will meet to begin the process of ending the military’s ban on transgender service members. 

Secretary of Defense Ash Carter yesterday sent a memo detailing his plan, which begins with protecting current transgender members of the military, currently estimated to be 15,000, from being discharged. That memo, according to USA Today, “directs officials to develop a plan within six months to incorporate those troops into the ranks.”

Carter’s memo is clear on his intent.

“The working group will start with the assumption that transgender persons can serve openly without adverse impact on military effectiveness and readiness unless and except where objective, practical impediments are identified, and shall present its recommendations to me within 180 days.” 

The Pentagon has made it much harder to discharge transgender troops, Carter’s memo reveals, since July 13. A discharge or denial of re-enlistment must now be approved personally by the Pentagon’s top official for personnel, Brad Carson.

Defense Secretary Carter, who was asked about the issue of transgender service members shortly after his confirmation, has been quick to act and support transgender troops. News of Carter’s decision to work to end the ban came just two weeks ago.

“I come at that from a fundamental starting point,” Carter had said while speaking with troops in February at a town hall style event. “It’s not something I’ve studied a lot since I became secretary of defense. But I come at this kind of question from a fundamental starting point, which is that we want to make our conditions and experience of service as attractive as possible to our best people in our country.”

He added that he is “very open-minded” about the issue, and said that the only “important criteria” is, “Are they going to be excellent service members?”

“I don’t think anything but their suitability for service should preclude them,” from serving, he added.

 

Image via U.S. Dept of Defense/Twitter