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U.S. Secretary of Defense Ash Carter says the military is lifting a ban on transgender service members.

"Effective immediately, transgender Americans may serve openly, and they can no longer be discharged or otherwise separated from the military just for being transgender," he told reporters today at the Pentagon.

The fundamental reason for the change, Carter said, is "that the Defense Department and the military need to avail ourselves of all talent possible in order to remain what we are now – the finest fighting force the world has ever known."

Researchers at RAND, he explained, estimate that "about 2,500 people out of approximately 825,000 reserve servicemembers are transgender, with the upper end of their range of estimates of around 7,000 in the active component and 4,000 in the reserves."

before the policy change was announced, trans troops have been "caught in limbo." He noted that trans troops haven't been eligible for promotion and their colleagues were required to refer to them by their gender assigned at birth. People who transitioned before trying to enlist were considered unfit for service."


Before this change, trans troops had to seek medical care outside the military system and pay for it themselves.

Part of the reason for today's change is to provide "better guidance" for commanders about "how to handle questions such as deployment, medical treatment and other matters," Carter said.

He also called this "a matter of principle. Americans who want to serve and can meet our standards should be afforded the opportunity to compete to do so."

Carter quoted Army Chief of Staff Gen. Mark A. Milley when he said this decision has its roots in upholding the Constitution:

Last July, the military started studying the practical issues for making this change and develop a plan to implement it. Research carried out by RAND, Carter explained, found that allowing trans troops to serve openly would have "minimal readiness impacts" on the military.

The implementation of this decision will start immediately and take place over the next year. Carter laid out a timeline:


"Today, we join in celebration with the thousands of brave transgender patriots who will now be able to serve our nation openly and with the deep respect they deserve," Human Rights Campaign President Chad Griffin 

He adds: "Ending this discriminatory policy not only brings long-overdue recognition to transgender service members, it also strengthens our military and our nation."

NPR's Steve Inskeep spoke with Captain Jennifer Peace, who is transgender before the decision was released. She said it would determine her future in the military. Here's more from Peace:

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In an earlier version of this story, we mistakenly reported that Rand Corp. estimated that about 25,000 service members are transgender. The correct figure is 2,500.

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"Transgender Americans may serve openly, and they can no longer be discharged or otherwise separated from the military just for being transgender," Secretary of Defense Ash Carter told reporters.

Transgender troops can now serve openly, Pentagon says

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