According to the order, most transgender people will be disallowed to serve in the national army.

White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders announced on Friday, "This new policy will enable the military to apply well-established mental and physical health standards — including those regarding the use of medical drugs — equally to all individuals who want to join and fight for the best military force the world has ever seen."

Last year he had banned the said community altogether from joining the troops.

Trump's new plan is set to cancel another policy implemented by the Obama administration.

The US President seemed to have followed recommendations made by Defense Secretary James Mattis.

"By its very nature, military service requires sacrifice. The men and women who serve voluntarily accept limitations on their personal liberties — freedom of speech, political activity, freedom of movement — in order to provide the military lethality and readiness necessary to ensure American citizens enjoy their personal freedoms to the fullest extent,” his memo to Trump read.

He said that present transgender soldiers who have not undergone reassignment surgery should be allowed to stay, provided they have been medically stable for 36 consecutive months in their biological sex before joining the military.

According to a report published in The Washington Post, Trump's decision will be challeged, much like his previous decision, where he banned transgender troops.

"In service to the ideological goals of the Trump-Pence base, the Pentagon has distorted the science on transgender health to prop up irrational and legally untenable discrimination that will erode military readiness," The Washington Post quoted Aaron Belkin as saying.

Belkin has studied transgender issues for the Palm Center, which worked in tandem with the Obama administration and was instrumental in repealing the previous ban.

"There is no evidence to support a policy that bars from military service patriotic Americans who are medically fit and able to deploy. Our troops and our nation deserve better,” Belkin said.

Condemning the action, Human Rights Campaign, US' largest LGBT civil rights organization, said that is discriminatory, unconstitutional and despicable.

HRC President Chad Griffin was quoted by NBC News as saying, "There is simply no way to spin it, the Trump-Pence Administration is going all in on its discriminatory, unconstitutional and despicable ban on transgender troops."

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer took to Twitter to oppose the move.

"No matter what @realDonaldTrump says, this is a transgender ban - plain and simple. This decision breaks faith with those serving today and those who aspire to serve. And it is yet another Trump-Pence decision intended to drive a wedge in our society."

He added, "Whether trans or otherwise, if you're qualified you should be permitted to serve. We should be grateful to all of those willing to risk their lives in service to the nation, no matter who they are, whatever their background. #honortranstroops #protecttranstroops #transmilitaryban."

Meanwhile, Maj. David Eastburn, a Pentagon spokesman, said that the new order will have 'no immediate practical effect on the military' as the Pentagon will go about its job of recruting and retaining transgender people in 'accordance with current law'.

Supporting the Pentagon's stand, the Justice Department stated on Friday, "The Department of Justice will continue to defend DOD’s lawful authority to create and implement personnel policies they have determined are necessary to best defend our nation.

“Consistent with this new policy, we are asking the courts to lift all related preliminary injunctions in order to ensure the safety and security of the American people and the best fighting force in the world.”

Image: Donald Trump/Twitter