Defense Secretary James Mattis announced on Tuesday that transgender troops can continue to serve in the military, pending the results of a study conducted by a group of experts in the Departments of Defense and Homeland Security.
Last week, President Trump signed a memo that barred transgender people from joining the military, a reversal of former President Barack Obama's policy that allowed transgender individuals to serve. In a statement, Mattis said that once the panel "reports its recommendations and following my consultation with the secretary of Homeland Security, I will provide my advice to the president concerning implementation of his policy direction. In the interim, current policy with respect to currently serving members will remain in place."
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