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Trump Tweets: Transgender People Won't Be Allowed To Serve In Military

BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- President Donald Trump has tweeted that, after consultation with generals and military experts, the U.S. government will not allow transgender people to serve in the U.S. military.

"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," he wrote.

Transgender service members have been able to serve openly in the military since last year.

Last year, former defense secretary Ash Carter lifted the ban, saying it was the right thing to do.

"Americans who want to serve and can meet our standards, should be afforded the opportunity to compete to do so," he said.

Since October, transgender troops have been able to receive medical care.

The Pentagon referred all questions about the president's statements to The White House, and said it will provide revised guidance in the near future.

The Pentagon won't release numbers, but a Rand study found that there are between 2,500 and 7,000 transgender service members in the active duty military, and up to 4,000 in the reserves.

Right now, there is no word on what will happen to those currently serving.

The ACLU released a statement calling the decision outrageous and desperate, and said it's examining its options.

This story will be updated as more details become available.

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