REVERSE COURSE

Trump: I’m Banning Transgender Recruits in the Military

“Our military... cannot be burdened with the tremendous medical costs and disruption that transgender in the military would entail.”

President Trump wants to ban transgender individuals from serving in the U.S. military, reversing course from President Obama, who lifted the ban last year. “After consultation with my Generals and military experts,” the president tweeted Wednesday morning, “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.” Obama’s policy was set to take effect on July 1, but the Department of Defense announced then that it would delay accepting transgender recruits until Jan. 1, 2018, to allow for further assessment of the policy’s effects. The Daily Beast previously profiled Kristin Beck, a transgender veteran who spent 20 years in military special operations, with 13 deployments, a Bronze Star, a Purple Heart, and a SEAL Trident to her name.