When asked if President Obama planned to take the lead on allowing military service for transgendered Americans, White House press secretary Josh Earnest seemed to creak the door open to the possibility.
Earnest, rather than deferring the question outright to the Department of Defense, responded to the question head on, saying that while the matter is subject to Department of Defense review, President Obama’s “commitment to that principle [of equality] is unwavering.”
Earnest took this as his final question after answering about the fear of an Ebola outbreak for the better part of his hour and ten minute-long briefing.
The White House flack made the comments during the White House press briefing Thursday afternoon.
“I do think that the president’s commitment to equality is one that he has articulated many times. He also believes that commitment to equality makes our country stronger and he believes it makes our armed forces stronger,” said the White House spokesman. “So his commitment to that principle is unwavering, but as it relates to how it is implemented in the armed forces, that’s the status of an ongoing review, and I’d refer you to the department of defense for a status update on it.”
Earnest declined to answer whether President Obama plans to make transgendered individuals able to serve by the end of his term in office.