WASHINGTON — The Air Force will announce on Thursday policy changes that will make it more difficult to discharge transgender airmen, a move that mirrors one made in March by the Army and moves the Pentagon a step closer to allowing transgender troops to serve openly, reports USA TODAY.

Troops diagnosed with gender dysphoria or who identify as transgender are generally discharged from serving based on medical grounds. Those decisions have been made by doctors and unit commanders. The new Air Force policy requires those decisions be reviewed by high-level officials at Air Force headquarters.

“Though the Air Force policy regarding involuntary separation of gender dysphoric Airmen has not changed, the elevation of decision authority to the Director, Air Force Review Boards Agency, ensures the ability to consistently apply the existing policy,” Daniel Sitterly, a top Air Force personnel official, said in a statement.

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Air Force Secretary Deborah Lee James. AP File