Government Reports: Reports Commissioned by Congress
Read about reports on "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" commissioned by Congress.
Financial Costs and Loss of Critical Skills Due to DoD's Homosexual Conduct Policy - February 24, 2005 [PDF]
This report, from the Government Accountability Office, estimates the financial cost associated with the ban on gays in the military and examines the impact of the policy on the separation of service members with critical skills. Acknowledging that insufficient data limits the ability to estimate total costs, the report was able to estimate recruitment and training costs for replacing service members separated under the homosexual conduct policy. According to the report, the separation of LGBT service members cost DoD almost $200 million since 1993. Costs not considered in the estimate include the costs of investigations, counseling, pastoral care, separation functions, and discharge reviews.
In addition, the report estimates that 757 service members who held critical occupations and 322 service members with important language skills have been dismissed under DADT since its implementation in 1993. A total of 9,488 service members have been discharged under the homosexual conduct policy.
Homosexuals and U.S. Military Policy: Current Issues - February 10, 2005 [PDF]
A Report from the Congressional Research Service. This report examines the legal, political, and social context of the evolution of the DADT policy from its inception in 1993. The report, published in 2005, observes that there have been increases in the number of discharges since the implementation of the law in 1993. In addition, the report describes factors that may impact the future of the DADT policy, such as changes in public opinion, the experience of foreign militaries, and the changes in the legal landscape as a result of the Lawrence v. Texas decision and efforts to legalize gay marriage.
Homosexuals and U.S. Military Policy: Current Issues - December 12, 1996 [PDF]
A Report from the Congressional Research Service.
