Defense Minister Mattis suspends transgender ban on US Army

In July, US President Donald Trump once again caused indignation with a tweet: he wanted to exclude transgender people from serving in the US Armed Forces. The US Army should not be burdened with “the enormous medical costs and disruption” that transgender people bring with them. Now US Secretary of Defense James Mattis has de facto frozen the presidential order.

An official statement states that a group of experts should examine what is best for the “military combat effectiveness that leads to victory on the battlefield”. In the meantime, the current regime remains in force as regards members of the army already on duty. He does not mention the question of recapturing transgender people; the expert group should also take care of it.

Defense Minister Mattis suspends transgender ban on US Army

US President Trump

At the end of July, President Trump had stated on Twitter that he would, “in consultation with my generals and military experts,” instruct the armed forces to stop accepting trans people in military service. Trump wanted to reverse a decision of his predecessor Barack Obama. The Pentagon responded by announcing that, as long as there was no official rule, transgender people in the army would continue to be welcome. Last Friday, Trump officially ordered the Pentagon not to include any more people in the armed forces that openly support their transgender personality. The decision on whether transgender, who already serve in the army, must leave the troop, he left to the Ministry of Defense.

So far, transgender people have not been allowed to serve or serve in the US Army. However, under Trump’s predecessor Barack Obama had been ordered to lift this ban with effect from 1 July this year. “Barriers that have nothing to do with the qualification” should no longer prevent the recruitment of the best qualified personnel, former Defense Secretary Ashton Carter said in support.