The Pentagon announced that it will implement President Trump’s plan to stop the recruitment of transgender troops in the military once it has conducted a study led by experts.
“Our focus must always be on what is best for the military’s combat effectiveness leading to victory on the battlefield,” Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said in a statement Tuesday evening. “To that end, I will establish a panel of experts within the Departments of Defense and Homeland Security to provide advice and recommendations on the implementation of the president’s direction.”
Mattis added that “in the interim,” transgender service members will be allowed to stay in the military.”
Trump on Friday formally ordered the Pentagon to abandon plans to recruit transgender troops and stop all funding of gender reassignment surgeries by March, a move that 143 lawmakers have urged Trump to back away from.
Mattis is required to implement Trump’s new transgender guidelines by March 23.
Trump initially surprised politicians and top military brass alike in July when he tweeted that transgender troops would no longer be allowed to serve in any capacity.
The plan would roll back the open service policy instituted by the Obama administration.
