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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
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| Trump's transgender military ban 'not worked out yet' | Trump's transgender military ban 'not worked out yet' |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| The White House has not yet decided how it will implement the president's ban on transgender people serving in the US military. | The White House has not yet decided how it will implement the president's ban on transgender people serving in the US military. |
| Mr Trump's surprise Twitter announcement on Wednesday has been met with criticism from rights groups. | Mr Trump's surprise Twitter announcement on Wednesday has been met with criticism from rights groups. |
| Spokeswoman Sarah Huckabee Sanders said the administration would work alongside the Pentagon to decide how to proceed. | Spokeswoman Sarah Huckabee Sanders said the administration would work alongside the Pentagon to decide how to proceed. |
| It is not yet clear how the announcement will affect current transgender service personnel. | It is not yet clear how the announcement will affect current transgender service personnel. |
| Transgender service members have expressed concern that they will be discharged, or unable to re-enlist. | Transgender service members have expressed concern that they will be discharged, or unable to re-enlist. |
| The timing also appears to have caught defence officials by surprise. | The timing also appears to have caught defence officials by surprise. |
| Why was the ban introduced? | Why was the ban introduced? |
| "The United States government will not accept or allow transgender individuals to serve in any capacity in the US military," Donald Trump tweeted. | "The United States government will not accept or allow transgender individuals to serve in any capacity in the US military," Donald Trump tweeted. |
| "Our military must be focused on decisive and overwhelming victory and cannot be burdened with the tremendous medical costs and disruption that transgender in the military would entail." | "Our military must be focused on decisive and overwhelming victory and cannot be burdened with the tremendous medical costs and disruption that transgender in the military would entail." |
| He added that the decision came "after consultation with my Generals and military experts". | He added that the decision came "after consultation with my Generals and military experts". |
| Some US media outlets have questioned the spending justification. The Washington Post drew attention to an analysis that the US military spends almost $42m (£32m) a year on the erectile dysfunction medication Viagra - several times the total estimated cost of transgender medical support. | Some US media outlets have questioned the spending justification. The Washington Post drew attention to an analysis that the US military spends almost $42m (£32m) a year on the erectile dysfunction medication Viagra - several times the total estimated cost of transgender medical support. |
| How would it be implemented? | How would it be implemented? |
| Asked at a press briefing if troops on battlefields would be immediately sent back, Ms Huckabee Sanders said the policy had yet to be worked out. | Asked at a press briefing if troops on battlefields would be immediately sent back, Ms Huckabee Sanders said the policy had yet to be worked out. |
| "The decision is based on a military decision. It's not meant to be anything more than that," she said. | "The decision is based on a military decision. It's not meant to be anything more than that," she said. |
| On Wednesday, the defence department referred all queries to the White House. | On Wednesday, the defence department referred all queries to the White House. |
| Defence Secretary James Mattis was only told of the decision after Mr Trump made his announcement. | Defence Secretary James Mattis was only told of the decision after Mr Trump made his announcement. |
| However, Ms Huckabee Sanders said: "This was something that was the product of consultation." | However, Ms Huckabee Sanders said: "This was something that was the product of consultation." |
| Transgender troops react to ban | |
| Why does the US military buy so much Viagra? | |
| Why has the president decided on this now? | Why has the president decided on this now? |
| Anthony Zurcher, BBC North America Reporter | Anthony Zurcher, BBC North America Reporter |
| The timing of this transgender ban is almost as interesting as the move itself. | The timing of this transgender ban is almost as interesting as the move itself. |
| Why now? With the Trump administration being buffeted by the Jeff Sessions political death watch, the ongoing multi-prong investigation into the Trump campaign, the healthcare drama in the Senate and the impending Russian sanctions bill, perhaps the administration decided this was a good time to change the subject and rally conservative forces to his side. | Why now? With the Trump administration being buffeted by the Jeff Sessions political death watch, the ongoing multi-prong investigation into the Trump campaign, the healthcare drama in the Senate and the impending Russian sanctions bill, perhaps the administration decided this was a good time to change the subject and rally conservative forces to his side. |
| Republicans have long used cultural issues as a wedge to divide Democrats and energise evangelicals. | Republicans have long used cultural issues as a wedge to divide Democrats and energise evangelicals. |
| While Mr Trump campaigned as sympathetic to LGBT rights, he needs the traditional religious conservatives to stay loyal to him now, more than ever. | While Mr Trump campaigned as sympathetic to LGBT rights, he needs the traditional religious conservatives to stay loyal to him now, more than ever. |
| What is the status of transgender service personnel? | What is the status of transgender service personnel? |
| The independent Rand Corporation estimates that about 4,000 US active-duty and reserve service members are transgender, although some campaigners put the figure higher than 10,000. | The independent Rand Corporation estimates that about 4,000 US active-duty and reserve service members are transgender, although some campaigners put the figure higher than 10,000. |
| The Obama administration announced last year that transgender people would be allowed to serve openly in the military. | The Obama administration announced last year that transgender people would be allowed to serve openly in the military. |
| Many active duty members came out following the decision. | Many active duty members came out following the decision. |
| Then-defence secretary Ash Carter also set a deadline of one year for the various branches of the military to begin accepting transgender recruits. | Then-defence secretary Ash Carter also set a deadline of one year for the various branches of the military to begin accepting transgender recruits. |
| The secret life of a transgender airman | |
| However in June, Mr Mattis agreed to a further six-month delay. | However in June, Mr Mattis agreed to a further six-month delay. |
| The Obama-era policy had included a provision for the military to provide medical help for service members wanting to change gender. | The Obama-era policy had included a provision for the military to provide medical help for service members wanting to change gender. |
| Rand predicted that the inclusion of transgender people in the military would lead to a 0.13% increase in healthcare spending - approximately $8.4m. | Rand predicted that the inclusion of transgender people in the military would lead to a 0.13% increase in healthcare spending - approximately $8.4m. |
| UK chiefs praise transgender troops | UK chiefs praise transgender troops |
| Trump revokes transgender toilet rules | Trump revokes transgender toilet rules |
| How have people reacted to Mr Trump's announcement? | How have people reacted to Mr Trump's announcement? |
| Transgender troops expressed dismay over the ban. | Transgender troops expressed dismay over the ban. |
| Several defence professionals also questioned the decision. | Several defence professionals also questioned the decision. |
| However, supporters said the cost of transgender surgeries should not be funded by the military. | However, supporters said the cost of transgender surgeries should not be funded by the military. |