(RNN) – Defense Secretary James Mattis said on Tuesday that transgender soldiers will be allowed to serve in the military while a study is conducted to implement President Donald Trump’s policies.
Trump announced through Twitter a ban on transgender soldiers serving in the military in late July.
In a news release, Mattis said the department will develop a study and plan to implement the policy. The plan “will contain the steps that will promote military readiness, lethality, and unit cohesion, with due regard for budgetary constraints and consistent with applicable law," he said.
He said the plan would address the service of transgender individuals, and those now serving.
"Once the panel reports its recommendations and following my consultation with the secretary of Homeland Security, I will provide my advice to the president concerning implementation of his policy direction," Mattis said in the statement. "In the interim, current policy with respect to currently serving members will remain in place."
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