BREAKING News From The Pentagon

The Pentagon temporarily got the green light to implement a more restrictive policy on transgender troops approved by Defense Secretary James Mattis last year, after a federal judge lifted the final injunction against the policy.

U.S. District Judge George L. Russell III rescinded his earlier order to bar the policy due to a January Supreme Court ruling that the Trump administration could enforce its ban while litigation continues, CBS News reports.

Under the new policy, any person who has been diagnosed with gender dysphoria and has received medical treatment – either hormones or surgery – will not be allowed to join the military. If they have been diagnosed, but have not received medical treatment, they will still be eligible to join.

All transgender soldiers currently serving will be allowed to stay in uniform, however, regardless of whether they have received medical treatment.

The Justice Department said in response to Thursday’s move that it was “pleased this procedural hurdle has been cleared,” CNN reported.

“The Department of Defense will be able to implement personnel policies it determined necessary to best defend our nation as litigation continues,” said Justice Department spokesperson Kelly Laco.

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The Pentagon will issue “further guidance, which will be forthcoming in the near future,” according to Pentagon spokeswoman Jessica Maxwell, CNN reported.

The ruling is “deeply disappointing for our clients and for transgender service members across the nation,” ACLU attorney Joshua Block said in a statement. “We will continue to fight against this discriminatory policy and the Trump administration’s attacks on transgender people.”

The ruling comes after Judge Marsha Pechman of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington granted a preliminary injunction in December 2017, blocking Trump’s ban. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit also upheld a block on the ban in July 2018.

Trump first announced the ban in June 2017.

“After consultation with my Generals and military experts, please be advised that the United States Government will not accept or allow … Transgender individuals to serve in any capacity in the U.S. Military,” Trump tweeted.

The case is still pending in the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals, and the Pentagon will not be able to fully implement the ban until a decision is reached.

More to come- stay tuned!

God Bless.