The policy prohibited military personnel from discriminating against or harassing closeted homosexual or bisexual service members or applicants, while barring openly gay, lesbian, or bisexual persons from military service. The policy was issued under Department of Defense Directive 1304.26 on December 21, 1993, and was in effect from February 28, 1994, until September 20, 2011. ' Don't ask, don't tell' ( DADT) was the official United States policy on military service by gay men, bisexuals, and lesbians, instituted during the Clinton administration.