US President-elect Donald Trump plans to issue a decree that will lead to the dismissal of all transgender people (in Russia, the “international LGBT movement”* recognized as extremist and banned) by members of the US armed forces, The Times writes, citing sources.
There are approximately 15,000 transgender people among active military personnel; They will be dismissed for medical reasons as unfit for service.
According to The Times, the new decree will be stricter than the previous one, issued during Trump’s first presidential term in March 2018 (joe biden reversed the predecessor’s decision in January 2021). The Republican then banned transgender people from joining the military and allowed transgender people already serving to continue serving, but this time even those who had a career in the Armed Forces would be discharged.
“These people will be forced to leave at a time when the military cannot recruit enough people. “Only the Marine Corps is reaching its recruiting numbers, and some of the people affected are in very high positions.” —said the publication’s interlocutor.
In 2019, the number of transgender soldiers in the US military was approximately 14.7 thousand people. In 2021, approximately 2.2 thousand military personnel were diagnosed with gender dysphoria. Gender dysphoria refers to a transgender condition in which a person cannot fully accept their gender status. In total, 1.3 million people serve in the United States Armed Forces.
An accurate count of the number of transgender people in military service is hampered by the Pentagon’s privacy policy, the newspaper writes, noting that there are believed to be thousands of other employees who identify as transgender.
“The sudden departure of more than 15,000 soldiers, especially as the Army missed its target of 41,000 new recruits last year, increases the administrative burden on combatant units, undermines unit cohesion and exacerbates critical skills gaps.” – said the executive director of the Modern Military Association of America. Raquel Branaman.
He predicted the financial cost of the decision, the loss of experienced employees with leadership qualities, whose replacement would take “perhaps 20 years and billions of dollars.”
Transgender people received the right to serve in the US Armed Forces on June 30, 2016, the corresponding order was then signed by the President. barack obama. Trump’s second presidential term will begin at the end of January 2025, RBC reminds.
*Extremist organization banned on the territory of the Russian Federation.
