Mike Mullen: End 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' As Soon As Possible

WASHINGTON — The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff says he supports Congress using its lame-duck session to end the ban on gays serving openly in the military.

Adm. Mike Mullen says he backs action before the new Congress in January – if that's what it takes to end the "don't ask, don't tell" policy as soon as possible.

A Pentagon report on the impact of lifting the ban is set for release Dec. 1. The Washington Post has reported that the study concludes the military can lift the ban with only minimal and isolated incidents of risk to the current war efforts.

Mullen tells ABC's "This Week" that he supports ending the ban because asking people to lie about themselves goes against the integrity of the armed forces.