President Trump Bans Transgender People From Enlisting In Military

President Trump directed the Pentagon on Friday to no longer allow transgender individuals to enlist in the military. The memo, however, gives the secretary of Defense the authority to allow individuals currently in the military to remain.

Trump also banned the Defense Department from using resources to pay for gender reassignment surgery for transgender people currently in the military. An exception can be made if denying the treatment would endanger the health of the person.

Reaction to the news was swift.

"This is a disgraceful, bigoted attack on transgender Americans honorably serving our nation," said Senator Jeff Merkley, Democrat of Oregon.

White House Releases Guidelines For Trump's Transgender Military Ban

The memo from Trump to She secretary of Defense and the secretary of Homeland Security undoes a policy put in place by President Obama. Trump said his predecessor was wrong to make the decision he did.

"In my judgment, the previous Administration failed to identify a sufficient basis to conclude that terminating the Departments' longstanding policy and practice would not hinder military effectiveness and lethality, disrupt unit cohesion, or tax military resources," Trump said.

"There remain meaningful concerns that further study is needed to ensure that continued implementation of last year's policy change would not have those negative effects."

The memorandum fulfills a vow after Trump unsuccessfully tried to implement the ban via Twitter earlier this year. The president had tweeted out that this was his administration's new policy.

"After consultation with my Generals and military experts, please be advised that the United States Government will not accept or allow transgender individuals to serve in any capacity in the U.S. Military," Trump had tweeted.

"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."

The Defense Department said it did not believe the tweets were an actual order and requested clarification from the White House. Military officials also disputed the notion that the president had made that decision in consultation with them as he had claimed.

At the time, the president's attempt to ban transgender individuals was met with derision on both sides of the aisle.

"Americans who are qualified and can meet the standards to serve in the military should be afforded that opportunity," said Sen. Joni Ernst, a Republican of Iowa and a veteran.

File photo of President Trump signing legislation via Alex Wong/Getty Images News/Getty Images