President Joe Biden on Monday signed an executive order repealing the ban on transgender troops serving in the military.
The January 25 action was announced by the White House shortly before the ceremonial swearing in of Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, Politico reported. Austin had supported the repeal of the ban, which was put into effect by former President Donald Trump. I truly believe . that if you re fit and you re qualified to serve and you can maintain the standards, you should be allowed to serve, Austin told lawmakers during his confirmation hearing. President Biden believes that gender identity should not be a bar to military service, and that America s strength is found in its diversity, a fact sheet from the White House noted.
BREAKING NEWS: Biden overturns trans military ban
Jan 25, 2021 | 10
UPDATE: Quote from President Biden added.
President Biden, honoring a commitment he made during the 2020 campaign, announced today (Monday, Jan. 25) that he is reversing the ban on transgender people in the military put in place by the Trump administration.
Before signing the executive order, Biden thanked Vice President Kamala Harris, Joint Chiefs of Staff Chair Gen. Mark Milley and retired Gen. Lloyd Austin, who was sworn in as Secretary of Defense immediately after the bill signing ceremony.
“This is reinstating a position that previous commanders and as well as the Secretaries have supported. And what I’m doing is enabling all qualified Americans to serve their country in uniform, and essentially restoring the situation as it existed before, with transgender personnel, if qualified in every other way, can serve their government in the United States military,” Biden said. He also promised that he