Trump announces ban on transgender people in military

The move reverses last year’s decision to allow trans people to openly enroll in the U.S. military.

By
Alexandra Jacobo
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1407
SOURCENationofChange

President Trump announced, via his favorite public platform of Twitter, that he is reinstating the ban on transgendered people serving openly in the United States military.

Last June, it was announced that the plan was to allow for openly transgendered individuals to serve in the military. Trans people were supposed to be allowed to openly enroll starting on July 1 of this year, but Defense Secretary James Mattis had delayed this by six months.

Since then, Republicans have been doing what they can to outright ban transgender service, or, at the very least, make it difficult or unlikely for trans people to serve. Earlier this month, a Republican effort to ban military funds from being spent on transition-related health care was defeated in the House.

The push to limit health care for trans people in the military has been spearheaded by Representative Vicky Hartzler (R-MO) who claims that the medical costs to the military would be $1.35 billion over ten years. Yet, according to ThinkProgress, this number is 16 times higher than even the highest estimates they could find.

According to the RAND corporation, the increase in cost would total (at most) around $8.4 million a year, a small increase of only 0.13 percent.

The Trump administration’s moves so far have shown it to be highly anti-trans rights. In addition to now banning trans people from serving in the military, they have also rescinded the Obama administration’s guidance protecting transgender students in schools and are attempting to reverse Obamacare’s guidance protecting transgender patients in health care. 

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Alexandra Jacobo
Alexandra Jacobo is a dedicated progressive writer, activist, and mother with a deep-rooted passion for social justice and political engagement. Her journey into political activism began in 2011 at Zuccotti Park, where she supported the Occupy movement by distributing blankets to occupiers, marking the start of her earnest commitment to progressive causes. Driven by a desire to educate and inspire, Alexandra focuses her writing on a range of progressive issues, aiming to foster positive change both domestically and internationally. Her work is characterized by a strong commitment to community empowerment and a belief in the power of informed public action. As a mother, Alexandra brings a unique and personal perspective to her activism, understanding the importance of shaping a better world for future generations. Her writing not only highlights the challenges we face but also champions the potential for collective action to create a more equitable and sustainable world.

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