Washington  (CSi)  – U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp (D-ND) today issued the following statement on the president’s  announcement via Twitter that transgender Americans will be banned from serving in the U.S. military.

“We need to honor – not shame – the men and women who put their lives on the line for the country they love, because every veteran and member of the military is owed our utmost respect for their service and sacrifice. If a servicemember can do the job and is willing, they should be able to serve – and they should be able to be open about who they are. It’s deeply unfortunate the president chose to announce this divisive news in an abbreviated and cavalier manner via social media, potentially impacting thousands of transgender servicemembers currently serving around the world. Decisions about military force posture and readiness are matters of life and death that should be among the most seriously considered by a president, and motivated by the best military judgment of the armed forces – not by politics.

 

“It’s also troubling that we could see more action. News reports have said the U.S. Justice Department is preparing to undercut existing anti-discrimination protections for LGBTQ Americans. This action would roll back many of the important steps we have made to stop discrimination. We cannot allow discrimination of any form – not in schools, places of business, or our communities.”

 

Currently, the U.S. Department of Defense allows transgender Americans currently serving in the U.S. military to serve openly. The president’s announcement comes on the heels of reports that U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions will weigh in on a federal appeals court case to undermine protections for LGBTQ Americans under the Title VII of the Civil Rights Act.