The military’s march towards social justice and political correctness will apparently continue with new Defense Secretary Ashton Carter at the helm.

Addressing military members during a tour of Kandahar, Afghanistan, Carter said he was “open-minded” about ending the ban on transgenders serving openly, the Advocate reports.

“I come at this kind of question from a fundamental starting point, which is that we want to make our conditions and experience of service as attractive as possible to our best people in our country,” Carter responded to a question from lieutenant commander who has cared for enlisted transgender patients, according to a transcript of his remarks.

“And I’m very open-minded about — otherwise about what their personal lives and proclivities are, provided they can do what we need them to do for us. That’s the important criteria. Are they going to be excellent service members? And I don’t think anything but their suitability for service should preclude them.”

The site estimates there are 15,500 transgender Americans. According to the Advocate, the secretary can repeal the ban and does not need to seek input from Congress.

LGBT activists are urging Carter to do just that.

“Secretary Carter is right — being transgender should not exclude anyone from serving in America’s military,” says Allyson Robinson, director of policy at SPARTA, an association “that advocates for open trans service.”

“Transgender Americans are serving today with honor and distinction, but must serve in silence and forgo medically necessary care to do so. There is no reason for this to continue. Secretary Carter must lead the way by ordering a top-down, department level review of the regulations,” Allyson tells the Advocate.

Activists had been urging former secretary Chuck Hagel to end the ban. He, too, said he was “open” but ultimately took no action.