The United States president, Donald Trump has once again slapped a ban on transgender people preventing them from enlisting in the United States military.
The US president signed the memo reinstating the ban on transgender people from serving in the military following the lift of the ban by the last administration under Barack Obama.
In the memo signed by the 45th US President, Donald Trump also halted the use of government funds for sex-reassignment surgery for active personnel.
However, the US president left the Defence Secretary, Jim Mattis with the choice to decide whether or not to retain existing transgender recruits in the US military.
The reinstatement of the ban was justified on grounds of cost and disruption. It however faces a legal challenge by transgender rights activists.
In a statement released, Jennifer Levi, an official at Glad (GLBTQ Legal Advocates & Defenders), said: “This policy is a shameful slap in the face to people who put their lives on the line everyday to defend our country…”