President Trump's tweeted transgender military ban on July 26 drew immediate criticism from both Democrats and Republicans, who were caught unaware by the decision. (Jenny Starrs/The Washington Post)A bloc of 45 U.S. senators is asking the Pentagon not to discharge any transgender service members until the Defense Department completes an ongoing review of whether they should be able to continue serving in uniform. [Pentagon has made no change yet to its transgender policy, says highest-ranking officer in U.S. military]The White House has not yet said whether or when it would issue detailed instructions to the Pentagon to carry out Trump’s tweeted orders. The letter from senators was written by Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), a member of the Armed Services Committee who focuses especially on personnel matters. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) wrote a letter eventually signed by 45 senators urging the Pentagon not to act on the president’s transgender ban while a review of the current policy is underway.

Source: Washington Post July 28, 2017 18:05 UTC