WASHINGTON (NBC News/WCMH) – The U.S. Navy’s personnel chief says there will be no changes for transgender personnel until further guidance, NBC Politics reports.
The chief’s statement comes one day following President Donald Trump’s announcement that transgender people would be barred from serving in the military.
Trump tweeted that he made the decision after consulting with “Generals and military experts.”
Local groups in Hampton Roads – which is home to Naval Station Norfolk, the world’s largest naval base – blasted Trump’s decision Wednesday. Hampton Roads Pride president Michael Berlucchi issued a statement, which said in part:
All people have something unique to offer in the service of their country and should be afforded an equal opportunity to do so. Many thousands of people who are transgender currently serve the U.S. military openly and honorably.”
Politicians similarly issued statements of opposition to the president’s announcement, including Ohio Sen. Rob Portman whose openly gay son prompted him to come out for gay rights in 2013.
“The Secretary of Defense is conducting a study of this policy and Rob believes we should wait until that is complete before making any decisions,” Portman’s office said in a statement.Keep checking NBC4i.com for real-time updates on this story. To get alerts for breaking news, grab the free NBC4 News App for iPhone or Android. You can also sign up for email alerts.