The Pentagon’s top advisory board is telling all military agencies to ignore President Trump’s transgender policy until further notice.
In the memo obtained by NBC News, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (CJCS) told service chiefs, commanders, and senior enlisted leaders that “there will be no modifications to the current [transgender service] policy until the President’s direction has been received by the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary has issued implementation guidance.”
“In the meantime, we will continue to treat all personnel with respect,” the memo continued. “As importantly, given the current fight and the challenges we face, we will all remain focused on accomplishing our assigned missions.”
NEW: Chairman of Joint Chiefs tells U-S military "no modifications" to current transgender policy until implementation guidance given.
— Peter Alexander (@PeterAlexander)
The CJCS’ memo is significant, as the Joint Chiefs of Staff is made up of top generals from the U.S. Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, and National Guard Bureau. It also seems to suggest that the tweets President Trump sent Wednesday morning were fired off without consulting top military leaders, despite tweeting that he only came to the decision “After consultation with my Generals and military experts.”
After consultation with my Generals and military experts, please be advised that the United States Government will not accept or allow……
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump)
….Transgender individuals to serve in any capacity in the U.S. Military. Our military must be focused on decisive and overwhelming…..
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump)
….victory and cannot be burdened with the tremendous medical costs and disruption that transgender in the military would entail. Thank you
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump)
Of course, Trump’s argument that medical care for transgender members of the military would break the bank doesn’t hold water when examined closely. As the Washington Post reported on Wednesday, the military as it does on transgender medical care (just $8.4 million). Additionally, taxpayers just spent another $58 million to pay for President Trump’s rent at Trump Tower, along with Secret Service protection for the First Family during Trump’s vacations at his opulent Mar-a-Lago estate.
As of Thursday afternoon, Secretary of Defense James Mattis has not issued any implementation guidance for Trump’s new transgender policy.
Simon Aldana covers national politics, education, and environmental issues for Grit Post. He is a proud Toledo University graduate, and lives in Inkster, Michigan.