{"id":13101,"date":"2017-12-06T22:30:35","date_gmt":"2017-12-06T22:30:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/uncategorized\/2017\/12\/06\/pentagon-prepares-to-accept-transgender-recruits-by-jan-1\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T05:25:13","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T05:25:13","slug":"pentagon-prepares-to-accept-transgender-recruits-by-jan-1","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/news\/your-navy\/2017\/12\/06\/pentagon-prepares-to-accept-transgender-recruits-by-jan-1\/","title":{"rendered":"Pentagon prepares to accept transgender recruits by Jan. 1"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The Pentagon is preparing to comply with a federal court ruling saying the military must accept new transgender recruits by Jan. 1, even as officials are still weighing how to comply with President Donald Trump\u2019s directive that they not be allowed to serve at all. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cJanuary 1 means January 1,\u201d said Jennifer Levi, GLBTQ Legal Advocates and Defenders Transgender Rights project director.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Levi was reacting to a U.S. District Court ruling that the Pentagon must move forward with accepting transgender recruits by the Jan. 1 deadline.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThat\u2019s the date when the military can no longer deny transgender people from enlisting,\u201d Levi said. \u201cThe court\u2019s earlier order was clear on that point. This latest ruling is an exclamation point, not that any was needed.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The new recruits will enter a military that\u2019s still weighing how and if transgender forces may continue to serve at all, guidance that is expected to be delivered from Defense Secretary Jim Mattis to President Donald Trump by February. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, whatever they decide may be undone by the nation\u2019s courts, which have already begun to weigh in on the issue. <\/p>\n\n\n\t