He extended the study because the military wanted more time. WASHINGTON — The Pentagon announced Thursday that transgender people will be allowed to serve openly in the U.S. military, ending one of the last bans on service in the armed forces. Officials said he wanted to insure there was no impact on military readiness, but over time, he became frustrated with the slow progress. He has long argued that the military must be more inclusive to bring in the best and brightest. He said he discussed the plans extensively with his military leaders, and based on their recommendations, he made adjustments to the timeline.

Source: National Post June 30, 2016 18:00 UTC