TRUMP: ONLY “REAL” MEN WELCOME IN THE MILITARY, TRANSGENDERS NEED NOT APPLY

July 26, 2017

Today President Trump officially announced he is banning Transgenders from serving in the U.S. Military. Trump made the announcement on Twitter saying “After consultation with my Generals and military experts, 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, Our military must be focused on decisive and overwhelming victory and cannot be burdened with the tremendous medical costs and disruption that transgender in the military would entail. Thank you”

In 2016 Obama lifted the ban allowing transgenders to serve openly in all branches of the military. The Obama policy provided transgender troops with coverage for any treatment deemed medically necessary by their doctors, including surgery and hormone therapy.Under Obama’s policy, the military is providing transgenders with sex change surgery at a cost of over $250,000 each.

Obama left the day to day policy decisions to the Secretary of the Defense opening the door to Sec. Mattis closing the door to transgenders.

 The RAND Corporation, which assisted the Pentagon in studying the issue, estimates there are between 4,000 and 12,000 transgender troops on active duty and in the reserves. The Pentagon is likely to spend between $2.4 to $8.4 million annually on the treatment, according to RAND. (Military Times)

LGBT groups are vowing to fight the change in the rules.