The US Army Is About To Take A Major Step Forward For The Transgender Community

The Pentagon is about to do something it should have done a long time ago.

Defense officials say it's planning to lift the ban on transgender troops in the US Army, according to USA Today.

The decision is expected to be announced at the beginning of July and could be signed off on as soon as Wednesday.

Plans to repeal the army's ban were floated around a year ago, but it's taken so long to get the green light because an extensive review had to be carried out to make sure the change wouldn't have an "adverse impact on military effectiveness and readiness."

According to USA Today, Rep. Mac Thornberry, the Texas Republican who chairs the Armed Services Committee, wrote to the Pentagon asking officials to outline what the exact impact would be.

Part of the letter reads,

What would be the projected cost of changing the transgender service policy? To what extent would military barracks, ship berths, gym shower facilities, latrines, and other facilities have to be modified to accommodate personnel in various stages of transition and what would be the projected cost of these modifications?

Pentagon spokesman Eric Pahon said officials responded to Thornberry, and explained that the main focus of the review of has been the impact on the military's readiness to fight if a ban was to be lifted.

Under the plan, new policies will be rolled out across all the armed services affecting housing, uniform and the recruitment process.