New Trump Transgender Military Policy Bars Those With Gender Dysphoria
Trump's new policy is out.
A new policy memo from President Donald Trump concerning transgender service members may allow some to serve, but keep in place tight restrictions for many.
The White House memo, released late Friday night, highlights recommendations from Defense Secretary Jim Mattis that individuals with a history or diagnosis of gender dysphoria be barred from serving, saying these people "may require substantial medical treatment, including medications and surgery."
With limited exceptions that are not spelled out in the memo, these people will be disqualified from military service, according to the policy.
"On the advice of ... experts, the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Homeland Security [Kirstjen Nielsen] have concluded that the accession or retention of individuals with a history or diagnosis of gender dysphoria -- those who may require substantial medical treatment, including through medical drugs or surgery -- presents considerable risk to military effectiveness and lethality," the White House said in a released statement.
The new policy, the statement continued, would allow the military to apply health standards equally to all who serve.