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GAO Report: Policy On Gays Cost Pentagon Nearly $200 Million

A new report from the Government Accountability Office finds that the United States military spent about $193 million between 2004 and 2009 in connection with the Pentagon's "homosexual conduct policy."

The GAO analysis identified 3,664 service members as having been "separated" from the military due to its policy against openly homosexual members serving in the armed forces. Most of the cost associated with the lost personnel came in the form of recruiting and training replacements.

It cost the Department of Defense a little over $185 million to recruit and train replacements, according to the GAO. A further $7.7 million was spent on the administrative side of removing the 3,664 service members from duty.

In December a new law allowing gays to serve in the military was passed by Congress and signed by the president. But it is not expected to take effect for several months.

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Wright Bryan