The new U.S. president will issue an order returning the Pentagon’s rule banning transgender people from armed service.
President Joe Biden issued an order of action Monday overturning the Trump administration’s policy that banned transgender people from serving in the U.S. military.
“What I am doing is enabling every qualified American to serve their country in uniform and essentially restoring the position as it was before with transgender workers,” Biden said in comments to reporters at the White House.
Former President Donald Trump first ordered a ban on transgender people serving in the U.S. military in 2017. The order has been challenged in federal courts as discrimination, re- study by Trump in 2018 and finally allowed the U.S. Supreme Court to take action in January 2019.
Incoming Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin is backing the lifting of the ban. Biden met Austin in the White House Oval Office on Monday before entering the Austin ceremonial ceremony.
“Our armed forces are at their best when they represent the talents of our entire population, regardless of gender identity,” Austin said in a tweet Monday.
“I fully support the direction (President Biden) today that all transgender individuals who wish to attend and meet these relevant standards will be able to do so,” said Austin.
New U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin was sworn in at the Roosevelt Chamber of the White House in Washington on January 25, 2021.[Kevin Lamarque/Reuters]
Trump’s order had drawn objections from gay rights advocates who dismissed the order as “bigoted” and “reckless”. Nearly 60 percent of Americans at the time said transgender people should be allowed to serve in the U.S. armed forces, Reuters / Ipsos found.
Biden’s order reverses Trump’s instructions and directs the defense secretary and homeland security secretary to implement the new policy across all branches of the military service – Army, Air Force, Navy, the Marines and the Coastguard.
The order prohibits impartial separation, distribution and refusal of re-listing on the basis of or in connection with gender identity.
Democrats in the U.S. Congress praised the action while some Republicans sharply criticized it.
“No Americans should be diverted from serving as the defense of their country simply because they are transgender,” House Democrat Democrat representative Steny Hoyer said in a statement.
“Another ‘unification’ move with the new administration?” Republican Senator John Cornyn posted a question on Twitter.
Another “unification” move with the new Administration?
Biden ends partial ban on transgender soldiers in U.S. military https://t.co/DiVXdFnEQ8
– Senator Iain Cornyn (@JohnCornyn) January 25, 2021
Naval Personal Officer Brock Stone, who had been among a number of servicemen who had sued the Trump administration for reversing the rule, said in a statement issued by the American Civil Liberties Union to he was “relieved and grateful” of Biden’s order.
“I joined the Navy in 2006 to serve my country and my patriotism includes speaking up for myself and anyone else involved. hold down, “Stone said.
Biden’s action affirms “that I and other transgender service members belong to our army,” he said.
A study by the U.S. Department of Defense in 2016 showed that allowing transgender people to attend to military readiness and health care costs would have little impact, the White House said in a statement citing its new policy.
The study also noted that transgender open service did not significantly affect the operational efficiency or coherence of units in foreign militaries.
Implementing the new directive will take some time for the service branches to release policies enacted under the Trump administration. Biden ‘s order requires homeland defense and security secretaries to report on progress within 60 days.
“President Biden believes that gender identity should not be a barrier to military service, and that America’s strength is to be found in its diversity,” the White House said in a statement announcing the order.