WASHINGTON, DC – Today, the Trump Administration issued a U.S. Department of Defense directive that amounts to a complete ban on transgender military service, forcing out current servicemembers and banning transgender people from enlisting.  This Trump transgender policy goes further than the trans military ban implemented during Trump’s first term, which allowed some transgender troops to continue serving.

U.S. Senator Jack Reed (D-RI), the Ranking Member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, issued the following statement:

“This is a divisive, discriminatory move that does nothing to keep the American people safe or strengthen our military.  Removing qualified transgender service members means getting rid of highly-trained, experienced personnel who aren’t easily replaced.  It’s a betrayal of these patriotic individuals and undermines the notion of merit-based military standards.  We need high-caliber people who will serve and defend the Constitution.”