Trump to ban transgender people from serving in US military

US President Donald Trump has announced that transgender people will no longer be allowed to serve in the country’s military as the medical costs are too high.

The decision would reverse a policy instated by predecessor Barack Obama which allowed transgender individuals to openly serve in the US army.

Trump made the announcement of the policy via his preferred social media site Twitter on Wednesday.

"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 said in a series of tweets.

"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."

Defence secretary James Mattis said last month that the US military was reviewing the practice of allowing transgender people to serve, following the extension of a one-year period for revision of the policy.

There are approximately 2450 transgender personnel currently serving in the military according to thinktank Rand, but some groups have suggested that figure could be as high as 15,000.