President Donald Trump’s ban on transgenders joining the military was halted by a federal court Tuesday, after a judge issued a preliminary injunction to stop the order from going into effect.
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) was a part of the lawsuit to prevent the ban and celebrated the decision, according to ABC News.
“Today is a victory for transgender service members across the country,” said Joshua Block, a senior staff attorney with the ACLU. “We’re pleased that the courts have stepped in.”
The injunction stops any government effort to ban a transgender person from serving in the armed forces.
The Department of Justice will continue to stand by Trump’s initial directive and defend the ban in court.
“The president’s directive is legal and promotes our national security,” said White House deputy press secretary Hogan Gidley. “The Department of Justice will vigorously defend it.”
Former Pentagon spokesman John Kirby spoke out against the ban, calling it a horrible idea and said if there are people willing to serve they should be allowed to continue.
“There are hundreds it not thousands of transgender troops already serving and as I’ve said they’re doing it honorably and well,” Kirby said.
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