ON THE BRINK

U.S. General: No Changes Yet to Transgender Policy

“We will continue to treat all of our personnel with respect.”

The U.S. military’s policy on transgender personnel has not yet changed after President Trump announced plans for a ban, Marine Gen. Joseph Dunford, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told military leaders Thursday. In a memo to service chiefs, commanders, and senior enlisted leaders, Dunford said they are waiting until Defense Secretary Jim Mattis receives direction from Trump about official policy changes. “In the meantime,” Dunford wrote. “We will continue to treat all of our personnel with respect. As importantly, given the current fight and the challenges we face, we will all remain focused on accomplishing our assigned missions.” The email was first published by Reuters and later obtained by The Daily Beast. An email by Navy Vice Adm. Robert Burke also said that transgender sailors will not be immediately discharged and and will continue to receive medical treatment, USA Today reported. The email also acknowledged that the announcement is “causing concern for some of our sailors.”