In a series of tweets Wednesday morning, President Trump said transgender people will not be allowed to serve in the U.S. military. He writes the presence of transgender people in the military would cause "tremendous medical costs and disruption."
Daniel Hoffman-Zinnel is executive director at One Iowa, an organization advocating for LGBTQ equality. He says a study commissioned by the defense department shows gender transition-related healthcare would increase the military’s health coverage costs by 0.13 percent or less.
"We're still concerned with this statement and feel like it’s really disrespectful but really are unsure of what it means, because it hasn’t been written into policy or executive order," Hoffman-Zinnel says. "So there’s still a lot of uncertainty."
The Trump administration has not acted on the president’s statement.
Hoffman-Zinnel says transgender service members and veterans are left wondering what Trump’s statement means for them and their healthcare.
Sen. Joni Ernst is breaking with President Trump on his statement that transgender people will not be allowed to serve in the military.
A spokeswoman for Ernst said in an email the Republican senator believes, "Americans who are qualified and can meet the standards to serve in the military should be afforded that opportunity."
Sen. Ernst is a military veteran and a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee. The statement adds Senator Ernst believes taxpayers should not cover the costs associated with sex reassignment surgery.
"I’m glad she recognizes that there is a need for us to protect our military individuals--that includes transgender individuals who are serving in the military," says Hoffman-Zinnel of One Iowa. "But to go against the healthcare services is, I think, a little too far."
Hoffman-Zinnel says President Trump’s call for a ban on transgender service members is "horrific and uncalled for."
