Federal judge blocks Trump’s attempt to ban transgender people from military

A federal judge has blocked US President Donald Trump’s bid to stop transgender people being able to serve in the military.

In July, Mr Trump said he would ban transgender people from military service in an attempt to reverse President Obama’s reforms.

Transgender service members have since attempted to block the ban through the courts.

US District Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly ruled they were entitled to an injunction until a final judgment is given.

Service members said Mr Trump’s policy would violate their constitutional rights to due process and equal protection under the law.

The President signed a memorandum in August directing the military to refuse transgender recruits and brought an end to the use of government funds for gender reassignment surgeries for active-duty personnel, except where such operations were already underway.

Judge Kollar-Kotelly said yesterday that the plaintiffs would likely win their case as the ban was unconstitutional since the reasons for it “do not appear to be supported by any facts”.