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The repeal would
come five years after a 2011 decision to end the U.S. military's
ban on gays and lesbians serving openly, despite fears - which
proved unfounded - that such a move would be too great a burden
in wartime and would undermine readiness.
The disclosure came the same week that the U.S. Army formally
welcomed its new secretary, Eric Fanning, who is the first
openly gay leader of a military service branch in U.S. history.
One of the U.S. officials said parts of the repeal would come
into effect immediately. But the plan would also direct each
branch of the armed services to implement new policies affecting
everything from recruiting to housing for transgender troops,
the official said.
Republican Representative Mac Thornberry, chairman of the House
of Representatives Armed Services Committee, said Defense
Secretary Ash Carter had not answered questions the panel had
asked, including about "readiness challenges" for transgender
service members.
"If reports are correct, I believe Secretary Carter has put the
political agenda of a departing administration ahead of the
military’s readiness crisis," Thornberry said in a statement.
Supporters of transgender rights cheered the news. Ashley
Broadway-Mack, president of the American Military Partner
Association, said in a statement: "Our transgender service
members and their families are breathing a huge sigh of relief."
The National Center for Transgender Equality estimated last year
that 15,000 trans people served in the U.S. military.
(Reporting by Eric Beech, Mohammad Zargham, Phil Stewart, Idrees
Ali; Editing by Leslie Adler)
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