Just Politics

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This will make Trumpty mad! Expect tweets!

transgender policy

'We will continue to treat all of our personnel with respect,' Marine Gen. Joe Dunford writes.

By BRYAN BENDER and JACQUELINE KLIMAS

07/27/2017 11:28 AM EDT

Updated 07/27/2017 12:32 PM EDT

There will be “no modifications” to the military’s transgender policy as a result of President Donald Trump’s declared ban on transgender men and women, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs said in a message to top military officers on Thursday -- the latest sign of the disarray following the commander-in-chief's abrupt announcement.

Marine Gen. Joe Dunford also wrote in the message, which was sent to the chiefs of the military branches and senior enlisted leaders, that the military will continue to “treat all of our personnel with respect.”

“I know there are questions about yesterday's announcement on the transgender policy by the President,” Dunford wrote in the internal communication, a copy of which was provided to POLITICO. “There will be no modifications to the current policy until the President's direction has been received by the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary has issued implementation guidance.”

“In the meantime, we will continue to treat all of our personnel with respect. As importantly, given the current fight and the challenges we face, we will all remain focused on accomplishing our assigned missions,” he continued.

The president said Wednesday in a series of three tweets that transgender troops would no longer be allowed to serve in any capacity, sparking questions about what that would mean for the thousands currently in uniform and whether it constitutes an official policy change.

The announcement also sparked fierce criticism from lawmakers in both parties, while advocacy groups immediately threatened to take the president to court of to overturn any ban