The White House is pushing ahead with plans to allow homosexuals to serve openly in the military.

Friday, press secretary Robert Gibbs said President Obama is committed to reverse the "don't ask, don't tell" policy, which restricts gays from disclosing their sexual orientation in the military.

The news came despite reports, Tuesday, from the Pentagon stating that repealing the don't ask, don't tell policy is a low priority to the Defense Department.

Later Friday, Pentagon spokesman Geoff Morrell took back those statements.

"President Obama has been clear in his direction to Secretary Gates and Chairman Mullen that he is committed to repeal the don't ask, don't tell policy," Morrell said.  "He has also been clear that he is committed to do it in a way that is least disruptive to our troops, especially given that they have been simultaneously waging two wars for six years now."

Also Friday, a military official --who spoke under the condition of anonymity-- said the military wants more time before the policy is reversed, because it will put already-stretched troops in the middle of a polarizing debate.

Still, the official says the military expects the ban to eventually be repealed.