President 
Obama last week signed the document certifying to Congress that the Defense Department has met the requirements for repeal of the 1993 “Don’t Ask-Don’t Tell” policy. This started the 60-day countdown that, on Sept. 20, will end the ban on homosexuals openly serving in the US military, per the repeal law that he enacted last December. “I have always been confident that our dedicated men and women in uniform would transition to a new policy in an orderly manner that preserves unit cohesion, recruitment, retention, and military effectiveness,” stated Obama July 22 upon announcing the certification. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said the certification came “after receiving input from the service Chiefs, service Secretaries, and from all the combatant commanders, who stated their views that the force is prepared for this change.” In a joint statement, Air Force Secretary Michael Donley, Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz, and CMSAF James Roy said the Air Force “stands ready to implement this change with the same unparalleled professionalism we have demonstrated with every transformation that we have undertaken in peace and war.” (Obama statement) (See also White House blog entry and repeal certification.) (Panetta statement) (Joint Chiefs Chairman statement) (Pentagon briefing transcript.)
A provision in the fiscal 2025 defense policy bill will require the Defense Department to include the military occupational specialty of service members who die by suicide in its annual report on suicide deaths, though it remains to be seen how much data the department will actually disclose.