Professor Belkin Comments on Financial Impact of Transgender Military Service

NEWSWEEK -- Some critics allege that the move could cost the military tens of millions, which could be better spent. Under the terms of the new bill, the military will cover healthcare and surgery costs for transgender service personnel.

However, Aaron Belkin, a professor of Political Science at San Francisco State University, told Reuters in 2015 that transition care for transgender members of the United States military would cost around $5.6 million, a fraction of the military’s budget. The Rand corporation has estimated costs could come to between $2 and $8 million.