WASHINGTON ― The Pentagon is working with the White House on a new transgender policy for the military services ― one which may leave the door open for some transgender troops to serve, Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said Monday.

In late July, President Donald Trump announced in three tweets that he would no longer allow transgender troops to serve in the military, a reversal of former President Barack Obama’s October 2016 policy that allowed transgender personnel to serve openly.

Since the tweets, however, there’s been no official policy sent from the White House further directing the terms of the reversal, Mattis said. Instead, members of the Defense Department have been at the White House, supporting staff there as the administration works through the issue.

“I’ve got my people there in the room to give them any military background that they might need to inform them,” Mattis said. “They write the policy ― we are in a supportive role, of course.”

Mattis said the policy coming from the White House would be more comprehensive than just a straight decision on who can serve.

“The policy is going to address more than a number,” Mattis said. “The policy is going to address whether or not transgenders can serve, under what conditions, what medical support they will require, how much time would they be perhaps non-deployable, leaving others to pick up their share. It’s obviously very complex, and it includes privacy issues which we respect.”

Asked if that meant that there could be conditions under which transgender personnel could serve, Mattis said, “we’re going to study the issue.”

Trump’s transgender ban has been challenged by leadership in the Coast Guard and Navy, and top leaders in the other services have pledged to continue to respect transgender personnel and allow them to continue serving in their current capacity barring an official change in policy.

Five female transgender personnel have also filed suit against the president and the service chiefs, arguing the ban violates their constitutional rights.

About Tara Copp, AP

Tara Copp is a Pentagon correspondent for the Associated Press. She was previously Pentagon bureau chief for Sightline Media Group.

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