New Pentagon Rules Will Supercharge the Exit of Transgenders From the Military – RedState

A new Pentagon policy will severely restrict the ability of so-called transgender members of the armed forces to avoid discharge by convincing a separation board to keep them on active duty. Under the previous policy, transgender people identified for release could appeal to a separation board to overturn the administrative process. The new policy allows commanders to ignore the separation committee’s recommendation and demand their release.

One of President Trump’s first acts was to issue an executive order titled Prioritizing Military Excellence and Readiness. This order revoked an executive order from Joe Biden, or perhaps a self-written executive order, that had encouraged transgender people to join the military and protected those currently serving; see Executive Order 14004 — Allowing All Qualified Americans to Serve Their Country in Uniform. That, in turn, had revoked a memorandum issued by President Trump during his first term that barred transgender people from accessing the service; see Presidential Memorandum to the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Homeland Security Concerning Military Service of Transgender Persons.

[Let me digress here for a moment to examine how the administrative process works under Republican versus Democrat administrations. Biden was able to revoke a Trump memo without issue. On the other hand, the memo written by Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano that created the Deferred Action on Childhood Arrivals, or DACA/Dreamer, program has proved impervious to all attacks. Go figure.]

The current estimate is that around 4,200 transgender people haunt the ranks and around 1,000 of them have requested voluntary separation.

The previous policy allowed transgender people to take their cases to a separation board of their peers and argue their case for continued employment. Under service regulations, an officer called a “separation authority” can disapprove a recommendation for separation and direct a service member’s retention; separation authorities are not authorized to order termination if a board recommends retention. This board recommendation was, like the DACA memo, intended to be more powerful than a legal order from the commander in chief.

The new policy established by War Department Undersecretary for Personnel and Readiness Anthony Tata changes that. In fact, it goes even further than reporting. The separation board is only authorized to determine whether the person suffers from gender dysphoria. If they don’t have it, we can expect them to suffer the consequences. Undersecretary Tata’s memo says: “All boards of directors will simply determine whether a respondent has a diagnosis, history or symptoms consistent with gender dysphoria and, if so, that the The respondent must be separated in accordance with reference (e).

The Tata memo also sets out the rules of engagement for the conduct of separation panels.

Pursuant to references (h) and (i), military personnel may appear at all proceedings in in person or virtually in accordance with applicable military department and service policies and regulations. All military personnel attending separation hearings, whether in person or virtuallymust adhere to uniform and grooming standards associated with their gender in accordance with with references (a) and (e). Exemptions to authorize civil dress ora non-associated uniform with the sex of a soldier will neither be authorized nor taken into account. Should the soldier does not comply with uniform and grooming standards, council deliberations will continue with the Military in absentia and may, if necessary, consider the military’s failure to comply with the standards considered when determining whether the reason for separation was been established. While wearing of the service uniform is preferable, wearing the uniform of The Day will not be taken into account in any decision of the board of directors.

They are not happy.

Logan Ireland, a master sergeant in the Air Force with 15 years of service, said he has been considered a man for most of his adult life and for nearly 13 years of his military service.

“It would be a betrayal of what the military considers me,” he said, adding that “it would be like a costume effect.”

Ireland, like almost all other transgender troops, is on administrative leave and he sports a long beard.

“Can I put on a skirt or wear the women’s uniform? Of course, yes… But does that reflect who I am and what I appear to be on a daily basis? No, and that creates a lot of confusion,” he said.

Of course, there are attempts to use verbal jiujitsu against Secretary Hegseth.

[Emily Starbuck Gerson, a spokeswoman for SPARTA Pride, an advocacy group for transgender troops and veterans]says the new policy appears to run counter to Hegseth’s ideal of a merit-based military.

“It doesn’t take into account the service member’s career history, accomplishments, training and necessity in their field,” she said.

Ireland also noted that this policy “deprives us of the dignity and respect we were promised as we are forced to leave a service that once honored our contributions.”

Never mind.

The Supreme Court greenlighted Trump’s policy in May; See Breaking: Supreme Court issues landmark ruling on transgender in military. Tata’s order appears designed to encourage as many voluntary separations as possible and create facts that will protect this Supreme Court victory as other challenges arise.

: Schumer’s closure is here. Rather than putting the American people first, Chuck Schumer and radical Democrats forced a government shutdown on health care for illegal immigrants. They own that. Help us continue reporting the truth about Schumer’s shutdown. To use promo code POTUS47 to get 74% off your VIP membership.