Air Force eases policy banning transgender troops

Tom Vanden Brook | USA TODAY

WASHINGTON — The Air Force announced policy changes Thursday that will make it more difficult to discharge transgender troops, a move that mirrors one made in March by the Army and puts the Pentagon a step closer to allowing transgender people to serve openly.

Troops diagnosed with gender dysphoria or who identify as transgender are generally discharged from serving, based on medical grounds. Those decisions have been made by doctors and unit commanders. The new Air Force policy requires those decisions to be reviewed by high-level officials at Air Force headquarters.

"Though the Air Force policy regarding involuntary separation of gender dysphoric Airmen has not changed, the elevation of decision authority to the Director, Air Force Review Boards Agency, ensures the ability to consistently apply the existing policy," Daniel Sitterly, a top Air Force personnel official, said in a statement.

The Air Force and Army moves follow a number of statements from top Pentagon officials about dismantling the policy allowing transgender troops to be kicked out of the services. Defense Secretary Ashton Carter said this year in response to a question about transgender service that ability to perform military tasks should be the standard for eligibility.

Air Force Secretary Deborah James expressed openness to allowing transgender troops to serve.

"From my point of view, anyone who is capable of accomplishing the job should be able to serve," James told USA TODAY. "And so I wouldn't be surprised if this doesn't come under review."

The Pentagon, as part of a review of medical eligibility rules, is examining the transgender issue. A decision on that is not likely for months. The last review was conducted in 2011.

The Air Force move puts the Pentagon on a path similar to the one it followed on the repeal of the "don't ask, don't tell" policy, which allowed gays and lesbians to serve unless their sexuality was discovered.

Until 2011, the decision to discharge gay troops had been raised to the Pentagon's top lawyer and personnel official and service secretaries. That requirement functioned as a moratorium, as no further dismissals were sought under "don't ask, don't tell."

A psychiatrist or psychologist must support the recommendation for discharge for gender dysphoria. A commander must also determine that the condition interferes with troops' performance of their duty.

Several close allies of the U.S. military, including Great Britain and Israel, allow transgender troops to serve openly.