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McHugh: Army can handle lift of gay ban

Army Secretary John McHugh, who spent 17 years in Congress as a Republican lawmaker before being asked to head the Army by a Democrat administration, finds himself at the center of debate over President Barack Obama’s pledge to try to repeal the military’s ban on service by openly homosexual people and the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy that is part of the controversial idea. He shared his views on the issue in an exclusive interview with Army Times.

When he was in Congress, McHugh carefully avoided giving his personal views on the issue, and as secretary, he continues to avoid voicing his opinion, saying his job is now to provide input to the president on how to make the change and to talk with members of Congress.

Selling the idea to Congress, which has the final say, could be a function of exactly what the administration tries to do, he said. The timing of repeal and how it is applied could be a factor, McHugh said. It is possible, for example, that homosexuals could be allowed in some occupations or units but barred from others, McHugh said, stressing that he was not aware of any such plans but only discussing how the issue could play out. “I don’t want to prejudge the situation,” he said. “I am not saying he will do that. I am saying if he did that, it would be my job to explain it when the appropriate time comes.”

When asked, specifically, if lifting the gay ban would be the serious disruption to the military predicted by those who oppose the president, McHugh said there is reason to think there would not be turmoil.

“Anytime you have a broad-based policy change, there are challenges to that. In the Army’s case, the Army has a big history of taking on similar issues and having predictions of doom and gloom that did not play out,” he said.