For the past year and a half, any transgender Americans who sought a career in any branch of the military would have found themselves shut out by a ban against their specific enlistment by the Trump administration.
As I’ve previously discussed, this ban didn’t necessarily affect anyone who was already expressing their gender identity in the military but would bar any new recruits from serving on that basis.
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In recent months, it’s something that President Joe Biden has set his sights on doing away with soon after taking office. And from the looks of it, anybody asking when he expects to do that may receive their answer before the day is out.
By the time the sun sets on January 25, any transgender individuals aiming to serve in the military may receive some welcome news.
As Reuters reported , a source speaking on condition of anonymity told the outlet that Biden would enact his reversal of Trump’s previous decision.
Although this timing has yet to be publicly confirmed by the White House, it does seem that this repeal is imminent.
This upcoming move was confirmed by a senior defense official and four activists who spoke to CBS News.
Although they remained similarly anonymous when speaking to the outlet, the defense official stated that this repeal would take place via an executive order that Biden is expected to announce after signing.
This announcement is supposed to take place at a ceremony featuring Biden’s recently confirmed Secretary of Defense, Lloyd Austin.
According to CBS News, Austin will then give the order for a return to the 2016 policy enacted by former defense secretary Ash Carter that allowed transgender Americans to openly serve in any branch of the U.S. military.
Judging by Austin’s statements during his Senate confirmation hearing, this isn’t just a case where he’s following Biden’s orders.
Instead, CBS News reported that he told Senator Kirsten Gillibrand that he and Biden are of the same mind about this repeal.
As he put it, “I support the president’s plan or plan to overturn the ban. I truly believe, Senator, that as I said in my opening statement, that if you’re fit and you’re qualified to serve and you can maintain the standards, you should be allowed to serve. And, you can expect that I will support that throughout.”
Once Biden unveils his executive order, Austin is expected to put it through to the Pentagon.
According to CBS News, the order will then direct each branch of the military to outline an implementation plan to readmit transgender soldiers.
Since — as stated before — this would entail returning to a policy enacted just five years ago, one might expect that they’ve already had some practice drafting such a plan.
h/t: CBS News
