US President Joe Biden has signed an order during a meeting with Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, which reverses the ban ordered by former President Donald Trump in a tweet during his first year in office. The new order immediately prohibits any service member from being forced out of the military on the basis of gender identity. “What I'm doing is enabling all qualified Americans to serve their country in uniform,” Biden said as he signed the order.
The order says, “America is stronger, at home and around the world, when it is inclusive. The military is no exception". ''Allowing all qualified Americans to serve their country in uniform is better for the military and better for the country because an inclusive force is a more effective force. Simply put, it's the right thing to do and is in our national interest". It further directs the departments of Defense and Homeland Security to take steps to implement the order for the military and the Coast Guard instructing them to reexamine the records of service members who were discharged or denied reenlistment due to gender identity issues under the previous policy.
The order directs the departments to submit a report to the president on their progress within 60 days. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said, “I fully support the President's direction that all transgender individuals who wish to serve in the United States military and can meet the appropriate standards shall be able to do so openly and free from discrimination. This is the right thing to do. It is also the smart thing to do".
Biden promises one million vaccinations daily in 3 weeks
US President Biden begins talks with Senate on Covid 19 relief Package
Joe Biden speaks to UK PM Johnson, discusses potential free trade deal