56 Former Generals And Admirals Denounce President Trump's Transgender Ban

WASHINGTON, DC — Fifty-six retired generals and admirals signed a statement released Tuesday to President Trump warning that his proposed ban on transgender people serving in the military would degrade readiness. Trump announced the plan last week on Twitter but has not taken any public steps to direct the Pentagon in its implementation of the policy.

"The Commander in Chief has tweeted a total ban of honorably serving transgender troops," the statement said. "This proposed ban, if implemented, would cause significant disruptions, deprive the military of mission-critical talent, and compromise the integrity of transgender troops who would be forced to live a lie, as well as non-transgender peers who would be forced to choose between reporting their comrades or disobeying policy."

It goes on to challenge the White House's position that transgender service members place an undue financial burden on the military's medical care. It also says that 18 foreign nations have integrated transgender people into their militaries with no reported ill effects. (For more information on this and other political stories, subscribe to the White House Patch to receive daily newsletters and breaking news alerts.)

The statement was coordinated by the Palm Center, a research organization that focuses on issues of sexual minorities in the military.

The statement quotes Admiral Mike Mullen at length:

I led our armed forces under the flawed 'don’t ask, don’t tell' policy and saw firsthand the harm to readiness and morale when we fail to treat all service members according to the same standards. Thousands of transgender Americans are currently serving in uniform and there is no reason to single out these brave men and women and deny them the medical care that they require. The military conducted a thorough research process on this issue and concluded that inclusive policy for transgender troops promotes readiness.

"After consultation with my Generals and military experts, please be advised that the United States Government will not accept or allow... Transgender individuals to serve in any capacity in the U.S. Military," Trump wrote on Twitter on July 27.

Read the full statement from the Palm Center>>

Watch: Lawmakers React To Trump Saying Transgender People Can't Serve

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