Transgender women are not exempt from the military draft, according to the Biden administration’s policy.
American Military News reported nearly “all male US citizens and male immigrants, who are 18 through 25, are required to register with Selective Service,” citing the Selective Service System website.
Additionally, the policy declares all biological males must register for the draft, including “U.S. citizens or immigrants who are born male and have changed their gender to female.”
According to the policy, “Individuals who are born female and have changed their gender to male” are not required to register.
The Selective Service “provides the Defense Department with troops in the event of a military draft,” as the American Military News reports.
The outlet pointed out the policy was revealed after the Selective Service tweeted, “Parents, if your son is an only son and the last male in your family to carry the family name, he is still required to register with SSS.”
Parents, if your son is an only son and the last male in your family to carry the family name, he is still required to register with SSS. Learn more about who needs to register at https://t.co/GYbRK99c09. pic.twitter.com/tzW6uKkyl5
— Selective Service (@SSS_gov) October 7, 2022
Twitter users were quick to mock the announcement.
One user wrote, “Do you assume we are all biologists? How are we to know what is a ‘son?’ It is 2022. Read a book and cool it with your transphobic tweets.”
Do you assume we are all biologists? How are we to know what is a "son?"
— RAMZPAUL (@ramzpaul) October 10, 2022
It is 2022. Read a book and cool it with your transphobic tweets. https://t.co/0BUegUuIrD
Another asked, “What if he identifies as a woman?”
What if he identifies as a woman? https://t.co/SzHpYudjRg
— Ian Miles Cheong (@stillgray) October 10, 2022
During his first month in office, President Joe Biden repealed a Trump-era ban on transgender Americans joining the military.
“This is reinstating a position that the previous commanders and, as well as the secretaries, have supported. And what I’m doing is enabling all qualified Americans to serve their country in uniform,” Biden said at the time.
Former White House press secretary Jen Psaki previously explained no one “will be separated or discharged from the military or denied reenlistment on the basis of gender identity, and for those transgender service members who were discharged or separated because of gender identity, their cases will be reexamined.”
She added, “President Biden believes gender identity should not be a bar to military service and that America’s strength is found in its diversity. America is stronger around the world when it is inclusive.”
