President Joe Biden on Monday signed an executive order repealing the ban on transgender troops serving in the military. The January 25 action was announced by the White House shortly before the ceremonial swearing in of Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, Politico reported.
Austin had supported the repeal of the ban, which was put into effect by former President Donald Trump. "I truly believe ...
that if you're fit and you're qualified to serve and you can maintain the standards, you should be allowed to serve," Austin told lawmakers during his confirmation hearing. "President Biden believes that gender identity should not be a bar to military service, and that America's strength is found in its diversity," a fact sheet from the White House