President Biden "believes that gender identity should not be a bar to military service, and that America’s strength is found in its diversity," White House says as he signs an executive order reversing the Trump administration's policy on transgender service members.
The Biden EO "Immediately Prohibits Involuntary Separations, Discharges, and Denials of Reenlistment or Continuation of Service on the Basis of Gender Identity or Under Circumstances Relating to Gender Identity," WH says.
The order directs an immediate review (and correction) of records of "service members who have been involuntarily separated, discharged, or denied reenlistment or continuation of service on the basis of gender identity or under circumstances relating to gender identity."
White House: "Simply put, transgender servicemembers will no longer be subject to the possibility of discharge or separation on the basis of gender identity; transgender servicemembers can serve in their gender when transition is complete..."
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Biden: "The decision on reconciliation will be one made by the leaders of the House and the Senate."
"No one wants to give up on their position until there's no other alternative," says Biden, a veteran of many congressional negotiations.
Unity doesn't have to be bipartisan, Biden says. "Trying to get at a minimum if you pass piece of legislation that breaks down along party lines when it gets passed. it doesn't mean there wasn't unity. It just means it wasn't bipartisan. I prefer these things to be bipartisan..."
SCOOP: Biden has chosen Gary Gensler as his nominee to lead the Securities and Exchange Commission and Rohit Chopra to lead the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, according to people familiar with the matter. More on @TheTerminal. Web soon.
Gensler and Chopra both have experience as financial regulators and are well-regarded by progressives, including Elizabeth Warren, who is close to both of them.
Biden builds out the NEC with two more hires. Sameera Fazili will be a deputy director focused on manufacturing, innovation and competitiveness. Nadiya Beckwith-Stanley will be special assistant to the president for budget and tax policy. bloomberg.com/news/articles/…
Brian Deese described the new hires to me as “people with really impressive economic-impact credentials, but also deep experience in inclusive economic development, racial equity, and a sort of place-based and community-based focus on economic engagement.” bloomberg.com/news/articles/…
Biden transition just rolled out additional policy staff, including: @StefFeldman, sr advisor to director of the Domestic Policy Council @CarmelMMartin, dep dir of DPC for economic mobility
Esther Olavarria, dep dir of DPC for immigration @clinkeyoung, dep dir for health & VA
Biden says he will lay out the framework for the next round of covid relief next week. “We need more direct relief flowing to families, small businesses,” he says.
In addition to calling for more crisis economic relief, Biden says that with Democratic majorities in both chambers of Congress, it should be possible to raise it to $15 an hour. “People in both parties recognize it’s time to raise the minimum wage,” he says.
Biden: “The bottom line is we’re in the midst of the most unequal economic and jobs crisis in modern history.”