Transgender recruits will be able to join the U.S. military as of Jan. 1 after a federal judge on Monday denied a request by President Donald Trump's administration to enforce his ban on transgender troops while the government appeals an order blocking it. The Pentagon said in a statement that it would follow court orders and begin processing transgender applicants on Jan. 1. Several transgender service members filed a lawsuit after Trump said in July he would ban transgender people from the military, citing concern over military focus and medical costs. Defense Secretary James Mattis had previously delayed a deadline that had been set during the Obama administration to begin enlisting transgender recruits to Jan. 1, which Trump's ban then put off indefinitely. They said Trump's ban discriminated against them based on their sex and transgender status.

Source: New Strait Times December 11, 2017 23:03 UTC