DADT Cost Military $193 Million

Don't Ask, Don't Tell may have wrought more damage than previously realized. According to a new Government Accountability Office report, the Pentagon spent $193.3 million discharging troops and recruiting their replacements over a six-year stretch. From 2004 to 2009, the military released 3,664 service members under the controversial (and recently overturned) policy banning openly gay troops from serving, paying around $52,800 for each discharge. “This is what it costs to actually go out and recruit and train people to replace those persons who were discharged,” said an author of the report, which was requested by Rep. Susan A. Davis (D-CA).