Senator Murray’s Statement on President Trump’s Transgender Military Ban

Senator Murray: Doubling down on hateful, ideological agenda, President Trump’s reckless ban “needlessly undermines our national security and values”

(Washington, D.C.)  – Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), a senior member of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee, issued the following statement in response to President Trump’s newly-released order banning transgender individuals from military service.  

“Once again, President Trump has chosen to ignore the overwhelming concerns of his military advisors as well as LGBTQ Americans and their allies across the country, and instead double down on his hateful, ideological agenda that moves our nation in the wrong direction and hurts our military readiness. Nothing is more important than keeping our nation and families safe, and President Trump’s reckless decision to ban transgender people from serving in the military needlessly undermines our national security and values.

“Anyone who is qualified should have the opportunity to serve our country, and anyone who wears our uniform to defend our freedoms deserves nothing but our country’s unwavering support and respect. As the daughter of a World War II veteran and a senior member of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee, I will join my colleagues in fighting tooth and nail against this misguided attack on transgender Americans who are volunteering to serve our nation.”