On Monday, the Pentagon announced that it will allow qualified transgender people to enlist in the military starting in January, in compliance with an order from the U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C. The Trump administration had appealed the court ruling, and the district court rejected an emergency stay on Monday. "As required by recent federal district court orders, the Department of Defense recently announced it will begin processing transgender applicants for military service on Jan. 1, 2018," the Defense Department said in a statement Monday. "This policy will be implemented while the Department of Justice appeals those court orders."
President Trump announced in July and signed a memorandum on Aug. 25 giving the Pentagon six months to develop a plan to ban transgender individuals from serving in the military, with the plan to take effect next March 23. The Pentagon will allow transgender enlistees who have completed their sex transition and "been stable in their preferred gender for 18 months."
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.
-
Syria's Druze sect: caught in the middle of Israeli tensionsThe Explainer Israel has used attacks on religious minority by forces loyal to Syria's new government to justify strikes across the border
-
Athens city and beach: The Dolli at Acropolis and Cape SounioThe Week Recommends Luxury living in two Grecotels designed to showcase ancient Greek ruins and modern Greek style
-
Tivoli Kopke Porto Gaia Hotel: a foodie haven in Portugal's Douro ValleyThe Week Recommends Luxury city hotel with food from a Michelin-starred chef – and plenty of port
-
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
