The Department of the Navy on March 13 announced voluntary separation for sailors with a current diagnosis or history of gender dysphoria, as it will only recognize the male and female sexes, “with gender being immutable.”
“Waivers for retention or accession may be considered on a case-by-case basis. Sailors eligible for voluntary separation pay will receive twice the amount of involuntary separation pay, though this is not available to those with fewer than six or more than 20 years of service,” the statement reads.
Those who opt for voluntary separation will be placed in an administrative absence status, with full pay and benefits, until their separation is complete. The Navy has committed to the “privacy and dignity” of those impacted by the policy change.
Furthermore, the Navy said that those who separate voluntarily do not need to repay education benefits or bonuses previously received.
The Navy document further says that a history of cross-sex hormone therapy, sex reassignment, or genital reconstruction surgery as part of gender-related treatments will be deemed disqualifying for military service applicants.
Waivers may be considered on a case-by-case basis by the secretary of the Navy.
Trump Cancels Biden’s Authorizations
In January 2021, after being elected as the 46th president of the United States, Joe Biden signed an executive order overturning the prior Trump administration’s stance on transgender military members.At the time, then-Defense Secretary Lloyd J. Austin III said that all transgender individuals “who wish to serve in the United States military and can meet the appropriate standards shall be able to do so openly and free from discrimination.” The personnel were allowed to serve as their self-identified gender.
Biden’s policy change also ensured that all medically necessary transition-related treatments were made available to service members.
Privacy in intimate spaces shall be enforced, said the order.
“Agencies shall take all necessary steps, as permitted by law, to end the Federal funding of gender ideology,” according to the order.
“Effective immediately, all new accessions for individuals with a history of gender dysphoria are paused, and all unscheduled, scheduled, or planned medical procedures associated with affirming or facilitating a gender transition for Service members are paused.”