President Joe Biden signed an executive order Monday (Jan. 25) revoking former President Trump‘s ban on transgender people serving in the U.S. military, saying it was “the right thing to do” and in the “national interest.
Biden’s executive order states that all Americans “eligible” to serve in the U.S. Armed Forces should be able to do so.
The Biden Administration emphasized that the U.S. military “thrives” when it is composed of a diverse group of Americans who can “meet rigorous service standards,” adding that “an inclusive military strengthens our national security.
“President Biden believes that gender identity should not be a barrier to military service and that America’s strength lies in its diversity.” The White House said.
“Allowing all qualified Americans to serve their country in uniform is better for the military and better for the country because an inclusive force is a more effective force.” The White House said, “Simply put, it’s the right thing to do and it’s in our national interest.”
Former President Trump had signed a memo in March 2018 officially authorizing the Pentagon to ban transgender individuals from joining the military, except in rare cases. The move repealed an Obama-era policy of rehiring transgender people into the military.
The memo states that transgender individuals with a medical history or a diagnosis of “gender dysphoria” that may require extensive medical treatment are ineligible to serve in the military.
The Justice Department released a statement at the Time supporting Trump’s policy. The statement said that after a comprehensive study and analysis, (then) Defense Secretary James Mattis concluded that the new policy should be implemented for gender-disordered individuals, consistent with improving military efficiency, military lethality and overcoming budget constraints. “The Department of Justice will continue to defend the legitimate authority of the Department of Defense to develop and implement the necessary personnel policies that the Department of Defense believes will best defend the United States.” The statement said.
Mattis had previously delivered a memo to Trump. It reads that based on a panel of experts and the Department of Defense’s best military judgment, the Department of Defense has concluded that allowing the admission and retention of transgender individuals with medical histories or “gender dysphoria” diagnoses poses “significant risks” to military effectiveness. These individuals require or have undergone a range of treatments to change their gender.
Trump has previously said, “Our military must focus on decisive and overwhelming victories and not be slowed down by the enormous medical costs and disruptions that transgender people bring to the military.”
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