Pentagon to Release DADT Study Early

The Pentagon will release its highly anticipated report about ending the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy one day early in order to help expedite the repeal vote in the lame duck session of the Senate.

According to The Washington Post, “Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates has ordered the report to be released Nov. 30, one day earlier than planned, ‘to support Congress's wish to consider repeal before they adjourn,’ Pentagon spokesman Geoff Morrell said Sunday.”

Last week, several senators asked Secretary Gates to release the report early so the Senate Armed Services Committee could hold hearings on it before the senate votes on a defense bill that includes repeal language. Gates could testify before the committee, along with Adm. Mike Mullen, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and the report’s cochairmen, Army Gen. Carter Ham and Pentagon Counsel Jeh Johnson, according to The Washington Post.

According to leaked information, the report is expected to conclude that the military could end the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy with minimal risk.