In his latest anti-transgender move the President cited tremendous medical costs and disruption as reasons for his provocative stance. In one of a series of Twitter posts he said: ‘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 US Military,’adding ‘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.’

Legal claims

Civil rights groups and LGBT advocates are getting ready for a legal battle over the tweet. The American Civil Liberties has written a letter asking any service members affected by the announcement to get touch. Other lawyers are looking at claims over equal protection under the 14th Amendment and due process under the Fifth Amendment. The Administrative Procedure Act, which bars the government from making arbitrary and capricious decisions,  is also under consideration.