Trump: Bar all transgender troops from US military

Associated Press

WASHINGTON

President Donald Trump abruptly declared a ban Wednesday on transgender troops serving anywhere in the U.S. military, catching the Pentagon flat-footed and unable to explain what it called Trump’s “guidance.” His proclamation, on Twitter rather than any formal announcement, drew bipartisan denunciations and threw currently serving transgender soldiers into limbo.

“Please be advised that the United States Government will not accept or allow Transgender individuals to serve in any capacity in the U.S. Military,” the commander in chief tweeted.

Trump wrote that he had consulted with “my generals and military experts,” but he did not mention Defense Secretary Jim Mattis, the retired Marine general who less than one month ago told the military service chiefs to spend another six months weighing the costs and benefits of allowing transgender individuals to enlist. At the time, Mattis said this “does not presuppose the outcome of the review,” but Trump’s tweets appeared to have done just that.

The Pentagon has refused to release any data on the number of transgender people currently serving. A Rand Corp. study has estimated the number at between 1,320 and 6,630 out of 1.3 million active-duty troops.

Criticism for Trump’s action was immediate and strong from both political parties.

His action is “harmful, misguided and weakens, not strengthens our military,” said Democratic Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand of New York.

John McCain, the Arizona Republican and Vietnam War hero, said Trump was simply wrong.

“Any American who meets current medical and readiness standards should be allowed to continue serving,” he said. “There is no reason to force service members who are able to fight, train and deploy to leave the military – regardless of their gender identity.”

U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan of Howland, D-13th, in response said: “I am disgusted by President Trump’s decision to ban transgender Americans from serving in the United States military. As we face growing threats in North Korea, ISIS and other actors around the world, it is more imperative than ever that we are recruiting the best and brightest Americans to defend our nation. Yet Donald Trump’s hateful and discriminatory decision arbitrarily reduces our pool of applicants. This is a nonissue being made into an issue to score cheap political points rather than address legitimate national security concerns. Donald Trump is quick to tout his love of the troops, but it is clear that his love and support is conditional.

“More than 134,000 of our retired Veterans are transgender, and there are currently 15,000 transgender service members proudly serving openly in our military today. Is President Trump really going to fire them because of who they are? Since President Obama repealed the antiquated and discriminatory requirement for these patriots to serve in silence, we have only seen positive impacts on the strength of our Armed Forces and their readiness to protect our country. As a member of the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, I refuse to discriminate against those who selflessly chose to serve our nation in the United States Armed Forces. Our nation is stronger than that hateful bias. It is appalling to see what lengths this President will go to divide us. These citizens put their lives on the line to preserve the freedom of all Americans. Today it may be transgender Americans. Tomorrow it will be another group that President Trump demeans in order to deflect attention from his legislative impotence.”

Not everyone at the Capitol agreed.

Rep. Duncan Hunter, a member of the House Armed Services Committee, said, “The president’s decision was the absolute right decision. ... It’s about time that a decision is made to restore the warrior culture and allow the U.S. military to get back to business.”

Transgender people already in uniform were concerned about what comes next.

“Everybody is hurt, everybody is scared,” said Rudy Akbarian, 26, who is in the military but did not want to identify his branch.

Akbarian, who said his chain of command was supportive as he transitioned from female to male, said his time to re-enlist is coming up and he might stay to ensure there is a strong voice for transgender troops such as himself.

“I’m going to remain hopeful,” he said. “America is really progressive and definitely smart, and there are a lot of transgender members serving in critical roles.”

Shane Ortega, a 30-year-old retired staff sergeant in Los Angeles, said he’s concerned more for civilians than transgender troops.

Ortega, who transitioned to male while serving in the Army and served combat tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, said, “When Donald Trump attacks what America calls its heroes or its warrior class, it means it’s only a matter of time before he starts attacking and disassembling the American public, and that’s what I have the most fear of.”

Hours after Trump’s tweets, Defense Secretary Mattis, who has been on vacation this week, was publicly silent, and the Pentagon referred all questions to the White House.