washington president donald trump say wednesday would ban transgender people u.s. military move appeal conservative political base create uncertainty fate thousands transgender service members surprise announcement trump presidential candidate last year vow fight lesbians gays bisexuals transgender people come series morning twitter post draw condemnation right group lawmakers party politically motivate discrimination praise conservative activists republicans administration determine whether transgender individuals already serve military would immediately throw point white house pentagon yet decide trump spokeswoman sarah sanders say transgender ban would reverse democratic former president barack obama policy halt years efforts eliminate barriers military service base sexual orientation gender identity consultation general military experts please advise unite state government accept allow transgender individuals serve capacity u.s. military trump tweet without name general experts military must focus decisive overwhelm victory burden tremendous medical cost disruption transgender military would entail say sanders say trump extensive discussions national security team defense secretary jim mattis inform president make decision tuesday military readiness sanders tell brief unit cohesion resources within military nothing more pentagon early refer question trump decision white house critics say health cost care transgender service members tiny portion military healthcare budget trump policy change base prejudice action unleash torrent legal threats civil liberties advocate seek plaintiffs will challenge ban court spark protest hundreds rally outside arm force recruit station manhattan time square crisis dark day everyone brad hoylman new york sole openly gay state senator say address crowd carry resist sign amid chant hey-hey ho-ho donald trump get go trump tweet catch white house officials surprise senior administration official say trump determine act question time advisers split whether conduct review announce move announcement least temporarily change subject washington trump administration face investigations presidential campaign contact russia struggle win major legislative victories first time trump target transgender people since take office january february rescind protections transgender students put place obama let use bathrooms correspond gender identity senate arm force committee chairman john mccain prominent military veteran congress navy pilot prisoner war vietnam war call trump announcement unclear inappropriate pentagon study issue complete review mattis military leadership lawmakers tony perkins president family research council advocacy group among praise trump say troop force endure hours transgender sensitivity class politically correct distractions obama pentagon last year announce end ban transgender people serve openly call prohibition outdated defense department expect begin formally allow transgender people enlist year mattis june 30 approve six-month delay step transgender service members already number 2,500 active-duty personnel 1,500 military reserve accord rand corporation think tank study cite last year obama defense secretary ash carter choose service members ground military qualifications social policy place military carter say wednesday note exist rank transgender individuals serve capably honorably advocacy group say trump policy open legal challenge u.s. constitution guarantee equal protection law american civil liberties union attorney joshua block say trump reject basic humanity transgender service members cost military readiness drawbacks associate allow trans people fight country block say president try score cheap political point back military personnel put live line country house representatives top democrat nancy pelosi note pentagon-commissioned study determine cost provide medically necessary transition-related care involve transgender service members would amount one-100th percent military healthcare budget study put cost 2.4 million 8.4 million year 50 billion defense department spend healthcare president trump show conduct drive honor decency national security raw prejudice pelosi say retire colonel sheri swokowski 67 highest-ranking openly transgender veteran join criticism transgender people serve today know leader frankly trust say bottom line great harm people simply want serve country u.s. representative ileana ros-lehtinen republican whose son transgender say twitter american matter sexual orientation gender identity prohibit honor privilege serve nation transgender celebrity caitlyn jenner defend patriotic transgender americans military ask trump twitter happen promise fight canada military also take twitter wednesday say welcome citizens sexual orientations gender identities add hashtag diversityisourstrength vicky hartzler republican congresswoman praise trump change obama costly damage policy u.s. military ban gays serve openly arm force end obama 2011 congress pass legislation 2010 reverse law dub ask tell force ouster thousands service members others hide sexual orientation pentagon obama also open combat roles military women u.s. military time vanguard social progress trump action come 69th anniversary democratic president harry truman racially integrate arm force years 1950s 1960s civil right battle trump ban transgender u.s. military personnel reverse obama