US President Donald Trump has said transgender people will not be allowed to serve ‘in any capacity’ in the US military.
The decision reversed a policy initially approved by the Defense Department under President Barack Obama, which was still under final review, that would allow transgender individuals to openly serve in the military.
Defense Secretary James Mattis announced last month that he was delaying enactment of the plan to begin allowing transgender individuals to join the US military.
Trump said in a series of tweets this morning, after consultation with his Generals and military experts, be advised that the United States Government will not accept or allow Transgender individuals to serve in any capacity in the U.S. Military,
He added that the US military 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.
Around this time last year, the Pentagon agreed it would allow transgender people to serve across the US military.
There are an estimated 250 transgender troops currently serving.
Since October last year, transgender troops have been able to receive medical care and start formally changing their gender identifications in the Pentagon’s personnel system.
Source: CNN
Stay tuned for the latest news on our radio stations