Military Service by Transgender Individuals

[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 60 (Wednesday, March 28, 2018)]
[Presidential Documents]
[Pages 13367-13368]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-06426]

Memorandum of March 23, 2018

Military Service by Transgender Individuals

Memorandum for the Secretary of Defense [and] the
Secretary of Homeland Security

Pursuant to my memorandum of August 25, 2017,
``Military Service by Transgender Individuals,'' the
Secretary of Defense, in consultation with the
Secretary of Homeland Security, submitted to me a
memorandum and report concerning military service by
transgender individuals.

These documents set forth the policies on this issue
that the Secretary of Defense, in the exercise of his
independent judgment, has concluded should be adopted
by the Department of Defense. The Secretary of Homeland
Security concurs with these policies with respect to
the U.S. Coast Guard.

Among other things, the policies set forth by the
Secretary of Defense state that transgender persons
with a history or diagnosis of gender dysphoria--
individuals who the policies state may require
substantial medical treatment, including medications
and surgery--are disqualified from military service
except under certain limited circumstances.

By the authority vested in me as President by the
Constitution and the laws of the United States of
America, I hereby order as follows:

Section 1. I hereby revoke my memorandum of August 25,
2017, ``Military Service by Transgender Individuals,''
and any other directive I may have made with respect to
military service by transgender individuals.

Sec. 2. The Secretary of Defense, and the Secretary of
Homeland Security, with respect to the U.S. Coast
Guard, may exercise their authority to implement any
appropriate policies concerning military service by
transgender individuals.

Sec. 3. (a) Nothing in this memorandum shall be
construed to impair or otherwise affect:

(i) the authority granted by law to an executive department or agency, or
the head thereof; or

(ii) the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget
relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.

(b) This memorandum shall be implemented consistent
with applicable law and subject to the availability of
appropriations.
(c) This memorandum is not intended to, and does
not, create any right or benefit, substantive or
procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any
party against the United States, its departments,
agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or
agents, or any other person.

(d) The Secretary of Defense is authorized and
directed to publish this memorandum in the Federal
Register.

THE WHITE HOUSE,

Washington, March 23, 2018