Hoyer Statement on Department of Defense Delay for Transgender Enlistment in the Military

Statement

House Democratic Whip Steny H. Hoyer (MD) released the following statement today in response to the Department of Defense annoucement of a delay for transgender Americans to serve in the military:

"It is outrageous that the Trump Administration would issue a delay in allowing transgender Americans to serve openly in our military without providing any evidence to support such a decision. When I was Majority Leader, one of my proudest moments was bringing to the Floor legislation to end the discriminatory "Don't Ask, Don't Tell' policy and enable gay and lesbian Americans to serve openly. Our military learned many lessons from that integration, which helped inform the decision by former Defense Secretary Carter to begin the process of allowing transgender Americans to serve openly in uniform as well. We need to ensure that all those who are talented, driven, and capable and who wish to serve in defense of our country -- often in mission-critical positions -- are able to do so. If the Pentagon cannot adequately explain or justify this reversal in the policy implementation, it ought not to pursue it."

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