Court Gives Feds 10 Days to Defend 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell'

The pressure to end 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' continues.

Less than a week after a federal appeals court told the U.S. Department of Defense to immediately cease defending the ban on openly gay soldiers, another appeals court commanded the U.S. Government to supply a rationale for continuing to defend it in court. U.S. Department of Justice attorneys have continued to defend the law with the explanation that Congress must act to change it.

The Log Cabin Republicans brought the lawsuit against the Justice Department, and attorney Dan Woods said that the ruling will force the government to unequivocally state its position gays in the military.

Now the government is not going to be allowed to have it both ways anymore, Woods said. The court is saying either fish or cut bait.

Congress voted to repeal the policy in December but has allowed the military time for a lengthy review process, during which openly gay soldiers have still lost their jobs. Under the ruling, Obama administration has 10days to clarify his administration's position on the policy to Congress.