'This Ban Weakens Our Military': Sarah McBride Slams Ban On Transgender Military Personnel

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In House floor remarks on Monday, Rep. Sarah McBride (D-DE) spoke about transgender service members.

Transcript

00:00Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Earlier this month, I joined my neighbors across Delaware in celebrating

00:08the freedoms that define our nation, freedoms made possible by those who have worn the uniform.

00:13It is appalling that while families gathered under fireworks to honor that sacrifice,

00:18the Trump administration was all too quietly forcing thousands of patriots from military

00:24service. These are Americans who have served with honor, with distinction, and with unshakable

00:29patriotism. Brave, honorable, and committed patriots who have also dared to have the courage

00:35to say out loud that they are transgender. These are qualified, trained, and decorated

00:41service members. They have deployed into combat, flown missions overseas, and led troops through

00:46danger. And now this administration is telling them that despite their qualifications and

00:51their exemplary quality of service, that they can no longer serve simply because of how they

00:57express their gender. That message is immoral, it is unfair, and it is un-American. I represent

01:06Delaware's at-large district, a district that includes thousands, tens of thousands of active

01:12duty service members, veterans, and military families. In our state, service isn't abstract.

01:18It's personal. And we see every single day what honor, discipline, and sacrifice looks like,

01:25regardless of someone's gender identity. These individuals met the same rigorous standards as

01:31their peers. The same physical exams, the same screenings, the same background checks. And in many

01:36cases, under intense scrutiny. They didn't just meet those standards, they exceeded them. Trans service members

01:43are receiving glowing fitness reports and commendations. One was described by her commander

01:49as, quote, within the top 5% of officers I've encountered in 18 years of military service.

01:55Another, an aviator with 60 combat missions under her belt earned the, quote, strongest possible

02:02recommendation for promotion. And I quote her commander directly, who attested, quote, people thrive under

02:09her leadership. A third, a non-commissioned officer and instructor was called, quote, undoubtedly within

02:15the top 5% of NCOs I've worked with in my 22 years of service. In a recent hearing, the secretary of

02:23defense even commended these patriots, only to frantically retract his praise when he decided

02:30that they're being transgender. One smart, one small part of who these soldiers are somehow outweighed

02:36their years of proven high performance and service to this country. These service members were just

02:43dismissed by this administration. The most powerful aspect of our military, the thing that makes it

02:49unique against our adversaries, is that it is a military of the people. In the United States,

02:54patriotism does not discriminate. And in this country, if you're willing to serve, to fight for our core

03:00beliefs, and to meet the standards, then we welcome you to stand with us, regardless of your race,

03:05religion, national origin, or any other aspect of who you are. Because you are an American,

03:12a patriot first. This decision to remove proven patriots for no justification causes serious weakness

03:20to our force. It turns away proven courage. It wastes billions in taxpayer investment,

03:26decades of hard-earned experience, and is a direct blow to readiness. Because this decision isn't

03:34about readiness. It's not about discipline or merit, and it's certainly not about cost. It's about

03:39exclusion. It's about using identity as a wedge to divide and distract. It's a cynical ploy, not sound

03:48policy. And our military, which should never be a political tool, is paying the price. Across Delaware,

03:55from Georgetown to Wilmington, I've met transgender veterans who serve this nation with distinction.

03:59Some stepped forward while hiding who they are, forced to choose between their truth and their

04:04country. Others served openly when policy briefly aligned with principle. All of them. All of them

04:11served with honor. These are Americans asking to serve their country, to put on the line their last

04:16full measure of devotion, just like generations before them. The least we can do is let them.

04:22We are not made safer by sidelining qualified patriots. We are not made stronger by narrowing

04:29the ranks of who gets to serve. And we are not made freer by telling brave Americans that their

04:34truth disqualifies them from service. This ban weakens our military. It betrays our values. And it

04:40sends the cruelest possible message to some of our most dedicated citizens that their service is

04:46unwelcome. And that one identity matters more than what they've done, what they've sacrificed, and what

04:53they fight for. I reject that message. To every transgender service member, I salute you. I thank

05:01you. I see you. I honor you. And I will not stop fighting for a country that is truly worthy of your

05:07service. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I yield back.

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