Army Secretary Ignoring DADT

The secretary of the Army said Wednesday that he would begin effectively ignoring the "don't ask, don't tell" policy.

Secretary John McHugh said he made the decision after speaking with several active gay service members in recent months, according to The New York Times. The move comes as Defense secretary Robert Gates and Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, have called on Congress to repeal the policy, in keeping with President Barack Obama's order during his State of the Union speech this year.

McHugh told reporters that it would be "counterproductive to take disciplinary action against someone who spoke with me openly and honestly."

McHugh, the Army's civilian leader, is a former Republican congressman from upstate New York.