When President Trump tweeted last week that "after consultation with my Generals and military experts" he had decided that transgender service members will no longer be allowed to "serve in any capacity in the U.S. military," it took just about everybody by surprise, including Defense Secretary James Mattis, Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen. Joseph Dunford, leaders of the various military branches, key members of Congress, and Ivanka Trump. On Monday, Pentagon spokesman Navy Capt. Jeff Davis said that the military has not received any follow-up guidance or orders from the White House, though "we have no reason not to believe" that Trump won't send over an official policy directive at some point.
On Tuesday, the commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard, Adm. Paul Zukunft, said he has no plans to abandon the Coast Guard's transgender members, telling a Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) forum that he has personally reached out to openly transgender personnel, including Lt. Taylor Miller, the first openly transitioning member of the Coast Guard. "Taylor's family has disowned her," he said. "And I told Taylor, I will not turn my back. We have made an investment in you and you have made an investment in the Coast Guard and I will not break faith."
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
-
The state of Britain's Armed ForcesThe Explainer Geopolitical unrest and the unreliability of the Trump administration have led to a frantic re-evaluation of the UK's military capabilities
-
Anti-anxiety drug has a not-too-surprising effect on fishUnder the radar The fish act bolder and riskier
-
Sudoku hard: April 21, 2025The Week's daily hard sudoku puzzle
-
British warship repels 'largest Houthi attack to date' in the Red SeaSpeed read Western allies warn of military response to Iranian-backed Yemeni rebels if attacks on ships continue
-
Houthi rebels claim Red Sea ship attacksspeed read Iran-backed Yemeni group vows to escalate aggression towards Israel-linked vessels in revenge for Gaza war
-
Israel plans next phase of Gaza war as first hostages releasedSpeed read After four-day ceasefire 'we will not stop' until destruction of Hamas, says Israel
-
Mob storms Russian airport 'looking for Jews'Speed Read Plane from Israel surrounded by rioters chanting antisemitic slogans after landing in Russia's Dagestan region
-
Tuberville's military promotions block is upending lives, combat readiness, 3 military branch chiefs saySpeed Read
-
Ukraine's counteroffensive is making incremental gains. Does it matter in the broader war?Speed Read
-
US commissions first-ever Navy ship in a foreign portSpeed Read
-
British spy chief, Wagner video suggest Prigozhin is alive and freely 'floating around'Speed Read
