Washington, D.C. — Today, the U.S. Supreme Court granted the Trump administration power to enforce the Defense Department’s ban on transgender Americans serving in the military.
In response, Caleb Smith, director of LGBTQI+ Policy at the Center for American Progress, issued the following statement:
“By allowing President Donald Trump’s ban on transgender people serving in the military, the Supreme Court is prioritizing politics over national security. Transgender service members serve the United States with integrity and courage, putting their lives on the line for the good of the country. We already learned from “don’t ask, don’t tell” that when we make military members hide who they are in order to answer the call and serve our country, we all lose. Recruitment today is at a historic low. Turning away qualified, dedicated service members isn’t just potentially unconstitutional—it’s critically detrimental to our nation’s defense.
“This decision is a temporary reversal; the courts can still do the right thing and overturn this ban. As a transgender person and former member of the military, I implore them to do so.”
For more information or to speak with an expert, please contact Mishka Espey at [email protected].