Pentagon to allow transgender recruits in military

The United States Defense Department has allowed the military to begin accepting transgender recruits starting January 1 next year, following a federal court ruling in the matter.

The ruling came on Monday despite Trump administration's request to delay the order to allow transgender people to join the armed forces starting January 1.

Fox News quoted Maj. David Eastburn, a Pentagon spokesman, as saying that the enlistment of transgender recruits would start January 1 and go on amid the legal battles.

Trump had announced back in July to reverse an Obama-era policy allowing transgender men and women to serve openly and receive funding for sex-reassignment surgery.

"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 US Military. Our military must be focused on decisive and overwhelming victory and cannot be burdened with the tremendous medical costs and disruption that transgender in the military would entail. Thank you," Trump had said in a series of tweets at that time.

According to media reports, there are an estimated 250 transgender troops currently serving the United States Armed Forces.