Administration of Joseph R. Biden, Jr., 2021

January 25, 2021

Well, folks, thank you very much for being here. I'm about to sign an Executive order, but I want to begin by thanking the Vice President for helping this, but also thank Chairman Milley, who has been a great, great help, and then also the soon-to-be Secretary of Defense, who, when we can finish this, will be sworn in in a moment. And so, don't say anything to cause him to change his mind, okay? [*Laughter*]

But all kidding aside, this is reinstating a position that previous commanders andâas well as the Secretaries have supported. And what I'm doing is enabling all qualified Americans to serve their country in uniform and, essentially, restoring the situation as it existed before, with transgender personnel, if qualified in every other way, can serve their Government in the United States military.

So that's what I'm about to sign. And I'm going to get a chance, I'm told, a little later on another matterâlater this afternoon when I speak to another orderâto answer all your questions on a whole range of things. But I'm going to be going to the swearing-in shortly after this. Okay?

Thank you, again.

[*At this point, the President signed the Executive order.*] All right. Thank you.

NOTE: The President spoke at 12:18 p.m. in the Oval Office at the White House. In his remarks, he referred to Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Mark A. Milley, USA; and Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III.

Categories: Addresses and Remarks : Transgender U.S. servicemembers, reinstatement of eligibility to serve, signing the Executive order.

Locations: Washington, DC.

Names: Austin, Lloyd J., III; Milley, Mark A.

Subjects: Civil rights : Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender persons, equality; Communications : News media :: Presidential interviews; Defense, Department of : Joint Chiefs of Staff; Defense, Department of : Secretary.

DCPD Number: DCPD202100082.

1