WASHINGTON — Army Secretary John McHugh is backtracking on his promise not to discharge troops who tell him that they are gay.

McHugh said in a statement released Thursday that he was “incorrect” when he had said there would be a moratorium on dismissals while the Pentagon conducts a yearlong review on its “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy.

Earlier this week, McHugh had said he wouldn’t punish troops who admitted they were gay in private conversations with him, even though they technically violated the law.

Secretary of the Army John McHugh Photo by The Associated Press

Manuel Balce Ceneta