In a shocking series of tweets by President Donald Trump this morning, the president announced that “transgender in the military” will no longer be allowed to serve in “any capacity”.
After consultation with my Generals and military experts, please be advised that the United States Government will not accept or allow……
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 26, 2017
….Transgender individuals to serve in any capacity in the U.S. Military. Our military must be focused on decisive and overwhelming…..
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 26, 2017
….victory and cannot be burdened with the tremendous medical costs and disruption that transgender in the military would entail. Thank you
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 26, 2017
This directly goes against the initiative made last year by President Obama and former Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter that would allow transsexual Americans to apply for service openly starting on July 1st, 2017 and has seemingly caught the Pentagon entirely off guard.
First, it is important to know that Secretary Mattis is on vacation and wasn’t involved in the initial announcement, which was written vaguely through the POTUS’ Twitter, and multiple reports have been coming out of the Pentagon all afternoon, citing a lack of clarity or respect for the White House’s handling of this matter:
Overheard at the Pentagon: "We're taking orders via Twitter now?"
— Nancy Youssef, نانسى (@nancyayoussef) July 26, 2017
JUST IN: Statement from Pentagon Spokesperson Jeff Davis on transgender policy announcement pic.twitter.com/e3REnP6Vcv
— NBC Politics (@NBCPolitics) July 26, 2017
Additionally, Trump cities the financial burden of the transgender community in the military, but a 2016 survey done by RAND Corp, commissioned by the Department of Defense cities that anywhere between 4,000-11,000 transsexual soldiers are involved in the U.S. military between active service and reserves and that only 65 members would actively be seeking transition treatments annually. That would incur a cost of anywhere between $2.4 million-$8.4 million in transsexual medical costs to the Defense budget, which translates to 0.13% of the annual healthcare budget of the Department of Defense and .001% of the annual budget, overall.
With further details in the report stating that a lack of treatment/accommodation for transsexual soldiers could lead to increased in suicide rates and substance abuse, the move seems very troubling to many in the military and LGBTQ+ community. But, many prominent voices in the trans community have spoken out against the tweets, including Laverne Cox, Caitlyn Jenner and ex-military member and famed whistleblower Chelsea Manning, who has taken charge in leading a wave of positivity in the face of this troubling news:
so, biggest baddest most $$ military on earth cries about a few trans people 😩 but funds the F-35? 😑 sounds like cowardice 😎💕🌈 #WeGotThis
— Chelsea E. Manning (@xychelsea) July 26, 2017
militaries, esp. U.S., have always been a social experiment just as much as a fighting force 😑 its how it got so bloated 🤠 #WeGotThis 😎🌈💕 https://t.co/HtNa54AeSP
— Chelsea E. Manning (@xychelsea) July 26, 2017
im not "giving" you hope ☺️ you already have it 🌈💕 https://t.co/TDruIASn8q
— Chelsea E. Manning (@xychelsea) July 26, 2017
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