Latest updates from the US Department of Defense: Pentagon’s Suspension of Participation in Think Tank Events
As per the latest updates from the US Department of Defense, the US Department of Defense has decided to stop all participation in think tank and research forums with immediate effect. US Department of Defense has withdrawn itself from all high-profile gatherings like the Aspen Security Forum and Halifax International Security Forum.
The reason cited for this with-drawl by the US Department of defense is a deviation of these events from the current administration’s values and guiding principles. Another possible reason for this move cited by the US Department of Defense is a de-lineation from the agenda of “globalism” by these think tanks and research forums.
Henceforth, all future defense official participation in such events will now be done only after multi-tier vetting by public affairs, general counsel, and policy teams. This latest move of the US Department of defense marks a significant retreat from traditional defense policy dialogue and public engagement which has been under practice since long.
Latest updates from the US Department of Defense: Air Force Denies Early Retirement Benefits for Transgender Service Members
According to the latest updates from the US Department of Defense, The U.S. Air Force has announced that transgender service members with 15–18 years of service will no longer be eligible for early retirement benefits under TERA. TERA stands for Temporary Early Retirement Authority. Previously, this program allowed transgender service members who had served for 15-20 years to retire early.
As per the latest development is the policy shift of the US Department of Defense, they will have to choose between involuntary discharge and a lump-sum separation payout. This enforcement released by the US Department of Defense follows the reinstated transgender service ban.
The latest move of the US Department of Defense has drawn sharp criticism from legal experts and advocacy groups due to its nature which is decisive and exclusive and not inclusive. The transgender community serving the US army has already been facing lots of troubles due to constant changes in the policies of the US Department of Defense for the transgender service in the military.
US Department of Defense: A brief look into the shifts in the policies regarding the transgender community
It is worth noting that the US Department of Defense has made significant shifts in the policy regarding the trans-gender community in the past too. Earlier, the trans-genders were not allowed to service in the army.
This ban was lifted in 2016 and the trans-genders were allowed to serve in the military and they had access to the gender elated treatment funded by the military.
However, in the year 2017 a reversal of this policy of the US Department of Defense happened under the administration of President Donald Trump. The transgender community was denied of its rights to serve in the military. When Joe Biden came into power, he directed the US Department of Defense to allow the trans-genders to serve in the military.
Now once again a new policy has been implemented by the US Department of defense which has denied the early retirement benefits to the trans-genders. This policy is being heavily criticized due to its exclusionary directives and is facing both legal and moral backlash.
It is also worth noting that the trans-genders serving the US military are on survival mode and Trump government’s radical ideology has been out-rightly criticized by the transgender community.
Conclusion
The US Department of Defense has decided to stop all participation in think tank and research forums with immediate effect. The US Department of Defense has withdrawn itself from all high-profile gatherings like the Aspen Security Forum and Halifax International Security Forum.
The reason cited for this with-drawl by the US Department of defense is a deviation of these events from the current administration’s values and guiding principles. Another possible reason for this move cited by the US Department of Defense is a de-lineation from the agenda of “globalism” by these think tanks and research forums.
The U.S. Air Force has announced that transgender service members with 15–18 years of service will no longer be eligible for early retirement benefits under TERA. TERA stands for Temporary Early Retirement Authority.
Previously, this program allowed transgender service members who had served for 15-20 years to retire early. As per the latest development is the policy shift of the US Department of Defense, they will have to choose between involuntary discharge and a lump-sum separation payout. This enforcement released by the US Department of Defense follows the reinstated transgender service ban.
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