Defense Secretary Carter opens military service to transgender Americans and requires transition-related medical coverage

Defense Secretary Ash Carter announced on June 30, 2016, that transgender Americans could serve openly in the U.S. military, effective immediately for currently serving members. New accessions would be permitted after a one-year review period. Carter directed the military services to cover all transition-related medical care under TRICARE. A Pentagon-commissioned RAND Corporation study released the same day estimated total annual costs at $2.4 million to $8.4 million — less than 0.13% of the military annual healthcare budget.