Trump's Transgender Military Ban: 5 Things You Need to Know
Obama Era Policy Implementation Was Delayed Per Request of Military
Before Trump announced his plan to reverse the implementation of the Obama era policy to allow for transgenders to serve openly in the military, the nation's Armed Forces requested and received a delay in said implementation.
Top generals requested a delay in that policy, which was approved by Secretary of Defense James Mattis on June 30. The new deadline was set for Jan. 1, 2018.
Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs Gen. Paul Selva told the Senate Armed Services Committee last month that the new measures could have "unintended consequences."
"Our decision to delay the accessions of transgender individuals into the services was largely based on a disagreement on the science of how mental health care and hormone therapy for transgender individuals would help solve their medical issues that are associated with gender dysphoria," said Gen. Selva.