Judge rejects ban on transgender troops

SAN FRANCISCO — A federal judge has rejected the Trump administration’s request to ban most transgender troops from the armed forces while it appeals her order allowing them to remain, and said the president’s claim that their service undermines military effectiveness has been repudiated by some of his own military leaders.

In fact, U.S. District Judge Marsha Pechman of Seattle ruled Friday, refusing to implement the transgender ban promotes a “strong national defense” by allowing “skilled and qualified service members to continue to serve their country.”

President Donald Trump first announced the proposed ban in a series of tweets in July, saying it was based on consultations with “my generals and military ex- perts.” His executive order reversed an order by former President Barack Obama that allowed transgender troops to serve openly as of June 2016.

Four federal judges from various states, including Pechman, quickly issued injunctions that blocked Trump’s order from taking effect, saying it was discriminatory and failed to justify exclusion of troops who had been found fit for service.