The nation's top military officer says U.S. policy on transgender individuals serving in uniform has not - and will not - change until Defense Secretary Jim Mattis receives the president's policy direction and Mattis determines how to implement it.
Gen. Joseph Dunford is chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Dunford made the statement in a note Thursday to all service chiefs, commanders and enlisted military leaders.
The Associated Press obtained a copy of the note.
Dunford is responding to Trump's announcement on Twitter Wednesday that the government will not allow or accept transgender people in the military "in any capacity."
Dunford says that for now, "we will continue to treat all of our personnel with respect."
Meanwhile, Nevada State Senators and veterans Patricia Spearman (D - North Las Vegas) and David Parks (D - Clark County) have called on Governor Brian Sandoval to issue an executive order banning any discrimination against transgender service members in the Nevada National Guard. The senators’ call comes in response to President Donald Trump’s order barring transgender people from serving in the United States armed forces.
Connecticut Governor Dan Malloy issued a similar anti-discrimination order to the Connecticut National Guard on Tuesday.
“President Trump’s order barring the transgender community from the armed forces is a disgrace. Not only will it keep patriotic Americans from serving their country, it puts the estimated 15,000 transgender active duty, reserve, and national guard personnel at increased risk,” said Senator Spearman and Senator Parks. “Governor Sandoval has shown significant leadership on LGBT issues during his two terms, and we hope he will make it clear that the Nevada National Guard will not discriminate against transgender Nevadans who wish to serve their state and their country.”
(The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
