ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) — The U.S. Naval Academy will ban people who are transgender from attending the school, beginning with the 2020 school year.
The Defense Department confirmed the policy change to the Capital Gazette on Monday. The school in Annapolis, Maryland, currently accepts transgender students and retains midshipmen who transition to another gender.
The change follows a policy shift under the Trump administration to bar people who are transgender from serving in the military. The new policy applies to students enrolled in the 2020-21 school year and beyond.
A Naval Academy spokeswoman told WTOP that it is their understanding that the Trump administration’s new rules for transgender people serving in the military will apply to the academy’s class of 2024 and beyond.
The Obama administration lifted restrictions on transgender service members in 2016. It allows them to serve openly and covered gender affirmation surgery.
The rules are being challenged in court by several transgender service members, including a midshipman. Midshipman Regan Kibby, currently enrolled in the academy, is one of six service members suing the Trump administration over its ban.
WTOP’s Michelle Basch contributed to this report.
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Information from: The Capital, http://www.capitalgazette.com/
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