The Department of Defense has announced that they will abide by a federal judge’s order to halt the enforcement of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, but have hinted that gay soldiers who make their sexuality known may face negative consequences if the judge’s order is blocked.
“We note for servicemembers that altering their personal conduct in this legally uncertain environment may have adverse consequences for themselves or others should the court’s decision be reversed,” Clifford Stanley, the Undersecretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness, said in a letter to the heads of the military’s departments.
Stanley also instructs officers to refrain from asking soldiers about their sexual orientation.
The Justice Department filed an appeal against the ruling on Thursday, and it is possible that the judge will issue a stay on the injunction. Stanley does not say in the letter if the Department will revert back to enforcing the policy that bars openly gay soldiers from serving if the stay is granted, but said that additional guidance will be given.
The Department of Defense is currently compiling a review on the effects that the repeal of the policy will have on military operations and unit cohesion as part of the Obama administration’s efforts to bring the 17 year policy to a responsible end.