A policy that will allow transgender troops to openly serve in the military is in its final stages of approval, according to sources in the Department of Defense.
The current policy prohibits transgender people from serving in the military. However, the Pentagon has been in the process of creating new guidelines to reform the policy. The Department has been wrestling with multiple issues as they prepare to implement it, such as housing, recruitment, medical treatment, fitness standards, and uniforms.
On Tuesday, the Pentagon acknowledged that many of the issues surrounding the repeal are close to being resolved.
“Senior leaders across the services and the [Defense] Department have met recently to consider some of the remaining key issues and are progressing quickly toward submitting recommendations to the secretary,” Eric Pahon, a Pentagon spokesman, said in a statement. “We acknowledge this process has taken some time, and that there are those that would like to see a policy decision immediately.”
The Department wanted to have all complications resolved before moving on the repeal.
“It is important that we carefully consider the myriad of medical, privacy, and service-unique issues so as to develop a policy that both ensures that service members who meet applicable standards are free to serve openly and addresses the readiness needs of our armed forces,” Pahon continued.
Last year, Defense Secretary Ash Carter ordered a six-month review of the ban.
According to a Rand Corp report, fewer than 2,500 troops are transgender and 65 would seek treatment annually, The New York Times reported last month. The changes in policy would only affect a fraction of the military.
While many are elated about the prospect of the imminent repeal, others are not as excited. Debate.org provided its users with the opportunity to vote and discuss this issue. Forty-five percent of voters sided with the Pentagon, saying that transgender troops will be a breakthrough for the LGBT community, while 55 percent of voters were not impressed.
“Coming from a former Marine with combat tours in Iraq … and Afghanistan, what we do is no joke, and it is no experiment,” wrote one voter.
“I am appalled at how the Pentagon is … using the military as a social experiment,” wrote another.
The pending repeal is expected to be announced within weeks.
