Military

Pentagon Approves Policy Restricting Transgender Service Members

Under the new policy, most individuals who require hormone treatments or transition surgery won't be allowed to serve.

Pentagon Approves Policy Restricting Transgender Service Members
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The Pentagon approved a new policy that will impose restrictions on transgender people serving in the U.S. military.

According to a memo obtained by several media outlets, acting Deputy Defense Secretary David Norquist signed the policy late Tuesday, and it will go into effect April 12.

After that date, most individuals who require hormone treatments or transition surgery won't be allowed to serve. But service secretaries can grant waivers on a case-by-case basis. Transgender people currently serving in the military can continue to do so if they agree to serve in their birth gender. 

The policy isn't as strict as the total ban President Donald Trump originally ordered in 2017.

But critics say it's demeaning and discriminatory, and many have promised to fight its implementation.