On Apr. 12, 2019, former president Donald J. Trump banned transgender people from joining the military. And once President Joseph R. Biden joined office he has since lifted this ban. 

Three years ago, Trump said he did not want transgender people to join the military or serve as an active members because of financial reasons, since all those in the military have their medical expenses covered. Trump believed that paying for medical expenses like gender transition surgery and more acted as a nuisance. 

His belief that gender transition surgery would cost around $250,000 influenced Trump’s decision. In reality, the surgery would range from $25,000 to $100,000. After the debunking of this, he later came out with other things he believed should not happen.

When transgender people want to start the process of transitioning, they need to go through a process of hormone therapy. Those following the process have to take drugs to help them with the transition. Trump said that once in the military one may not take drugs. Most people that use medication for health reasons usually can not join the military because of that reason. This decision has also been debunked because while in the military it is estimated one out of six members have taken psychiatric drugs. Many believe that banning transgender people from serving in the military was unjust because of anti-descrimination laws. One of those people includes the new president of the United States.

Biden stated that, if elected president, he would reverse this ban and allow anyone qualified to serve in the military join. Once Biden became the 46th president of the United States, he did just that by reversing the ban. 

Biden reversing Trump’s ban allows those already part of the military and those who plan on joining the military later the ability to do so.