The President Donald Trump’s newest policy of banning the transgender people in the US military has received a large criticism from almost all the classes of the country. The long time critic of President Trump’s foreign policy, John McCain, a senator from Arizona, also has slammed Trump over the issue.
In a statement released by the Senator McCain, he has expressed that the assertion by the President is unclear and the Department of Defense has already allowed the currently-serving transgenders personnel in the military to work. Many transgenders are serving the military honourably, according to the senator from Arizona.
McCain, who was recently diagnosed with the brain cancer, said that the military personnel who are ready to fight, train and deploy should not be removed from the military due to their gender identities.
He further added that all the “Americans who want to serve the country should be treated as patriots”.
Earlier, President Donald Trump, through Twitter, announced that the State Government will not accept the transgenders to work in the military.
After consultation with my Generals and military experts, please be advised that the United States Government will not accept or allow......
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 26, 2017
....Transgender individuals to serve in any capacity in the U.S. Military. Our military must be focused on decisive and overwhelming.....
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 26, 2017
....victory and cannot be burdened with the tremendous medical costs and disruption that transgender in the military would entail. Thank you
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 26, 2017
The decision was taken after the consultation with the Generals of the military and has been taken to cut the “medical costs” on the transgenders in the army, according to the President.
However, while answering the question on how the decision will affect the transgenders working in the military currently, the White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders indirectly answered that the Department of Defense and the White House will work together in order to implement the policy in a lawful manner.
In 1.3 million army of the United States with 800,000 in reserve, the exact number of transgenders is still unknown. However, according to the results around 1,300 are serving in the Army actively and nearly 15,500 in reserve in Army as well as in National Guards.
Even though McCain had asserted earlier that he is a fan of James Mattis, Defense Secretary of Donald Trump, he had also added that he will be countering when he disagree with the President.
John McCain has also been the critics of previous Democratic government, slamming the defense policies of former President Barack Obama.
By Prajakt K.
