Ex-military officials urge US judge to halt Trump's transgender ban
Three high-ranking military officials from the Obama administration on Thursday joined several transgender service members in urging a US judge to halt President Donald Trump's ban on transgender people serving in the military.
The former secretaries of the Army, Navy and Air Force, including former Army Secretary Eric Fanning, the first openly gay head of any US military service, submitted sworn statements to a Washington, D.C., federal court in support of a motion for an immediate injunction.
The new filings came as part of a lawsuit challenging the ban, which Trump first announced in a series of tweets earlier this month. The move would reverse former President Barack Obama's order that allowed transgender people to serve openly without fear of losing their jobs.
"The ban marks transgender service members as unequal and dispensable, stigmatizing them in the eyes of their fellow service members and depriving them of the unique honor and status associated with uniformed service to their country," the motion said.
Trump has said the ban would ensure unit cohesion and readiness. A White House spokeswoman did not immediately comment on Thursday.
