Trump bans transgenders from serving in US military (Lead)

Washington July 26 (IANS) President Donald Trump tweeted on Wednesday that transgender individuals would be prohibited from serving in the US military saying he made the decision after consulting with Generals and military experts.

Trump said his administration would not allow transgenders to serve in any capacity in the US armed forces.

"Our military must be focused on decisive and overwhelming... victory and cannot be burdened with the tremendous medical costs and disruption that transgender in the military would entail. Thank you " Trump wrote on his personal Twitter account.

In June 2016 then-US Defense Secretary Ash Carter announced that "effective immediately" transgender individuals currently on military duty would be able to serve openly.

He said then that the services would begin allowing transgenders to join the armed forces starting on July 1 2017.

But hours before that deadline on June 30 2017 the Pentagon announced a delay in its transgender recruitment policy until January 1 2018.

"The services will review their accession plans (for transgender applicants) and provide input on the impact to the readiness and lethality of our forces " the Pentagon said then.

That delay however did not affect transgender individuals currently serving in the US Armed Forces whose future is now in limbo following Trump s announcement.

The President did not indicate in his tweets when and how the ban would be implemented.

--IANS
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