Defense Secretary Robert Gates and Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Adm. Michael Mullen are urging Congress not to take action on Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell until after the Department of Defense completes its review of the policy. The review is due in December.
Roll Call (sub. req.) reports today that Gates, in a letter to House Armed Services Committee Chair Ike Skelton (D-MO), said he would “strongly oppose” legislation offered before the review is finished, and said such a move would send a “very damaging message” to troops.
“I hope Congress will not do so, as it would send a very damaging message to our men and women in uniform that in essence their views, concerns, and perspectives do not matter on an issue with such a direct impact and consequence for them and their families,” he said. The letter was co-signed by Mullen.
Gay rights groups have pushed the White House and congressional Democrats to include repeal language in this summer’s defense authorization bill, which sets the military’s budget. Skelton, who supports repeal, had written to Gates asking for his input.
Some gay advocacy groups have accused the Obama administration of dragging its feet on repeal.
Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell prohibits openly gay men and women from serving in the military. Last month, Gates announced that the military would change the way the policy is enforced, imposing higher restrictions on who can begin discharge procedures against a servicemember among other changes.
