Joint Chiefs of Staff will wait for word on transgender soldiers, saying “We will continue to treat all of our personnel with respect”

The nation’s top military officer says U.S. policy on transgender individuals serving in uniform has not — and will not — change until Defense Secretary Jim Mattis receives the president’s policy direction and Mattis determines how to implement it.

Gen. Joseph Dunford is chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Dunford made the statement in a note Thursday to all service chiefs, commanders and enlisted military leaders.

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The Associated Press obtained a copy of the note.

Dunford is responding to Trump’s announcement on Twitter Wednesday that the government will not allow or accept transgender people in the military “in any capacity.”

Dunford says that for now, “we will continue to treat all of our personnel with respect.”