Defense Secretary Ashton Carter is
expected to announce today that the military is lifting its ban on
transgender troops.
According to the Washington
Blade, Carter will make the announcement at a news briefing at
the Pentagon scheduled to take place at 1:30 PM.
USA Today reported earlier this
month that repeal will take place on July 1.
Under current regulations, the military
can discharge transgender people. However, officials have made the
process of forcing out transgender troops more difficult in the last
year.
Last July, Defense Secretary Ash Carter
created a working group to study the issue, saying that the
military's current policy on transgender service is “outdated.”
An estimated 15,000 transgender people
serve in the active-duty military and the reserves.