WASHINGTON \u2014 A bipartisan group of senators on Friday introduced new legislation to block military leaders from dismissing any transgender troops and to speed up a Pentagon review into accessions of new transgender recruits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The effort \u2014 which includes Republicans John McCain of Arizona and Susan Collins of Maine with Democrats Jack Reed of Rhode Island and Kirsten Gillibrand of New York \u2014 comes after supporters unsuccessfully tried to attach the proposal to the annual defense authorization bill this week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cDespite being denied a vote on my bipartisan amendment to defend our transgender service members, we are not giving up in this fight,\u201d Gillibrand said in a statement. \u201cThousands of brave transgender Americans love our country enough to risk their lives for it, fight for it, and even die for it, and Congress should honor them and let them serve.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cDoing otherwise would only harm our readiness at a time when our military is deployed around the world in defense of our country.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The move comes after President Donald Trump last month signed a directive banning any new transgender recruits from joining the military and instructing Defense Secretary Jim Mattis decide whether to retain or dismiss transgender individuals already serving.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Trump has labeled transgender troops a potential readiness threat, because of medical concerns and costs related to their gender transitions. Critics of the president point to studies from the Defense Department last year disputing the costs and potential effects on morale.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The RAND Corporation has previously estimated the cost of health care services for transgender troops at close to $8 million a year, a small fraction of the $600 billion-plus Pentagon budget.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
McCain, who serves as chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, said in a statement that with new legislation, Trump\u2019s proposals are unnecessary and do not improve military readiness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhen less than one percent of Americans are volunteering to join the military, we should welcome all those who are willing and able to serve our country,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Under Trump\u2019s memo, Mattis has until March 2018 to decide the fate of current transgender troops and issue exceptions to a ban on funding for transgender-related medical procedures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The legislation introduced Friday would speed up that review to the end of this year, and prohibit the Pentagon from dismissing any troops \u201csolely on the basis of the member\u2019s gender identity.\u201d It would also express a sense of Congress that all Americans who meet fitness standards should be eligible to serve in the ranks.<\/p>\n\n\n\t