Rep. Susan Davis, a senior member of the House Armed Services Committee, criticized as “prejudice and bigotry” President Trump’s ban on transgender Americans serving in the military.
“President Trump’s ban is an attack on the thousands of transgender patriots who are serving courageously and with distinction every day. This ban is based solely on prejudice and bigotry,” she said.
The Pentagon disclosed Tuesday that a directive has been signed to implement Trump’s ban, which was announced via Twitter in 2017, but has been tied up in the courts.
Those who enlist after the ban takes effect in 30 days will have to serve in the gender they were assigned at birth. However, service secretaries will be allowed to grant waivers on a case-by-case basis.
Transgender troops had been serving openly since June 2016, when the Obama administration ended a previous ban.
Davis represents the 53rd Congressional District, which includes central San Diego, La Mesa, Lemon Grove, Spring Valley and parts of El Cajon and Chula Vista.