Defense Secretary to Form Expert Panel for Transgender Military Ban Implementation

U.S. Defense Secretary to Form Expert Panel for Transgender Military Ban Implementation In a recent announcement, Secretary of Defense James Mattis revealed plans to assemble a panel of specialists to advise on the execution of President Donald Trump's directive to restrict transgender individuals from serving in the U.S. military. This move follows the president's official order issued last Friday, which prohibits new transgender recruits, halts funding for gender-affirming surgeries for active personnel, and authorizes the defense secretary to determine the retention of existing service members. Trump's announcement on Twitter on July 26 sparked widespread attention, with the president stating, "It's been a challenging situation, and I believe being transparent helps." In response, Mattis emphasized that the department would develop a comprehensive plan to implement the policy, prioritizing military readiness and cohesion while considering legal and budgetary constraints. "We will establish a panel of experts from the Department of Defense and Homeland Security to provide guidance and recommendations on how to carry out the president's order," Mattis stated. He also noted that...