After almost ten months of blocking military promotions in protest of abortion access, Senator Tommy Tuberville has finally backed down. Tuberville’s blockade drew harsh criticism from both sides of the political aisle as over 400 military officers were prevented from receiving their promotions. Global threats, from Russia to the war in Israel and Palestine, continued […]
Secretary of Defense Supports Major Change in Prosecution of Military Sexual Assault Cases
On Tuesday, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin endorsed a proposed change in the military justice system that would remove the authority to prosecute sexual assault cases from the chain of command and instead transfer that authority to independent military lawyers. Under the new recommendations, military commanders would no longer handle the prosecution of sexual assault cases. […]
V.A. Will Provide Gender Confirmation Surgery to Transgender Veterans
On Saturday, the Department of Veterans Affairs announced that they plan to add gender confirmation surgery to their existing healthcare services. V.A. Secretary Denis McDonough made this announcement at a Pride event in Orlando, Florida. The new directive will reverse a 2013 ban on gender confirmation surgery, in which the V.A. refused to provide the […]
Biden Lifts Trump’s Ban on Transgender Military Service
Today, in an expected action, President Biden signed an executive order reversing the ban that Trump had signed that had prohibited transgender people from serving openly in the military. The White House said Biden’s directive “sets the policy that all Americans who are qualified to serve in the Armed Forces of the United States should […]
Trump’s Order to Withdraw from Afghanistan Draws Ire Domestically and Abroad
On Tuesday, President Trump ordered the withdrawal of more troops from Afghanistan and Iraq. Leaders within his party, as well as global allies, shared their concerns that leaving “too soon” could have a high cost. In a statement to CNN, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg warned that, “the price for leaving too soon or in […]
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Trump Transgender Military Ban Takes Effect
President Trump’s highly controversial and discriminatory military policy to ban all transgender individuals from serving in the United States Military will officially take effect today at the Pentagon. In addition to banning transgender individuals from military service, the Pentagon will also prevent using any DoD or DHS resources to fund sex reassignment procedures or surgeries, […]
Senator McSally Speaks out Against Sexual Assault in the Military
On Wednesday in a Senate Armed Services subcommittee, Senator Martha McSally, a veteran of the Air Force and the first woman to fly in combat after the ban on women was lifted, revealed that she is a rape survivor and that the rape occurred while actively serving in the military. In an emotional speech, she […]
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Supreme Court Announces Trump Transgender Military Ban can Immediately take effect
The Supreme Court announced this morning that the Trump administrations’ ban on transgender military service can immediately take effect, impacting over 9,000 Service members, but the Supreme Court declined hear arguments regarding the ban’s constitutionality. Appeals to lower courts will continue but the Supreme Court issued a stay of lower courts’ injunctions which prevented the […]
UK Military Allowing Women to Serve in all Units
On Thursday, the UK government announced that all military units, including elite units such as the Special Air Service (SAS) and the Royal Marines will now be open to women. Women who already serve in the military can immediately transfer to elite combat units whereas new recruits will be able to apply starting December and […]
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US Marine Corps Adds First Female Infantry Officer to Ranks
The lieutenant has requested that her name not be released to the public, but her achievement is a milestone for all women in military service. She will be assigned to the 1st Marine Division in California.
Trump Reinstates Ban on Recruitment of Transgender Troops
President Trump issued a memorandum last week reinstating a ban on transgender individuals serving openly in the United States military and forbidding the Department of Defense from providing medical treatment related to healthcare for transgender service members.
Trump Plans to Reinstate Ban on Transgender Troops
President Trump announced via Twitter on Wednesday morning that he plans to reinstate a ban on transgender individuals serving military “in any capacity” in the United States military. There are currently 1,320 to 6,630 transgender people serving in the military.
Senate Committee Votes to Give Free Birth Control to Non-Active Service Members
Last month, the Republican-controlled Senate Armed Services Committee passed an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act that, if passed by Congress, would give free birth control to all members of the military and their dependents. Currently, women in the military are only granted this benefit while on active duty.
Defense Department Delays Plan to Allow Transgender Recruits
Military officials will now have until December 1, 2017, to conduct a review process to determine whether allowing transgender people to enlist will affect the “readiness or lethality” of the United States Armed Forces.
Bill to Protect Military Sexual Assault Survivors from Retaliation Heads to President’s Desk
On Thursday the Senate approved a bipartisan bill that seeks to address retaliation against service members who report sexual assault.
Defense Secretary Carter Lifts Ban on Transgender Service Members
In a historic decision, Defense Secretary Ashton Carter announced Thursday that the Pentagon is lifting its discriminatory ban on transgender people serving openly in the United States military.
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Two Women Graduate from Army Ranger School, Making History
Capt. Kristen Griest and 1st Lt. Shaye Haver have become the first women to ever graduate from the elite and grueling Army Ranger School.
Pentagon Starts Process to Lift Ban on Transgender Military Members
Secretary of Defense Ash Carter announced this week that the Department of Defense will begin the process of lifting the ban on transgender military service members.
New Bill Would Create a Registry of Military Sex Offenders
Due to loopholes in the system, many convicted sex offenders in the military are not registered sex offenders once they exit the military.
Senate Blocks Military Sexual Assault Legislation
The Senate denied a vote for the Military Justice Improvement Act yesterday, blocking the act for the second time this year.
