The White House says U.S. President Donald Trump announced a ban on transgender persons serving in the U.S. military is based on money and readiness factors.
A year ago, then candidate Donald Trump promised he would fight harder for LGBT Americans even harder than Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton.
In a tweet, President Trump said the U.S. military cannot afford the tremendous costs and disruption of transgender soldiers.
White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders.
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A study by the bipartisan RAND Corporation (which has done consulting for the U.S. military for over 50 years) finds transgender soldiers and sailors have little to no impact on unit cohesion or readiness.
Also, U.S. Defense Secretary James Mattis was on vacation when President Trump made the decision and the Pentagon has referred all questions back to the White House.
White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders says the military backs the president's decision.
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