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And it sounds like the DoD was doing an in-depth study on the matter, due in December, and then Trump stepped in and tweeted a decision while Matthis was on vacation? The disregard for facts in this administration is staggering.

@littlebug: That's what I don't understand! I get that people have different values, morals, beliefs, experiences than me and thus have different priorities and positions in politics. But can't we all agree that it's best to have facts and follow the rules in order to bring those things about?!

Some people have suggested it's to distract the news cycle from healthcare. It's a pretty "big" / important distraction if so, but it's an possible angle. He often tweets ridiculous things when the news isn't in his favor.... which is often.

So I don't know how accurate this story is, but Politico is reporting that Trump made this decision in order to get a spending bill passed!

http://www.politico.com/story/2017/07/26/trump-transgender-military-ban-behind-the-scenes-240990

What is sad is that he announced this on the same day (July 26) as when racial integration occurred in the military. It feels like a step backwards, setting aside politics, my personal feelings and the oddity of policy via tweets.

This is an interesting article that talks a bit about the financial effects of transgender people in the Canadian military (it's been allowed since 1992):

https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/canadian-forces-aim-to-improve-transgender-policy-as-trump-reinstates-ban/article35812695/

The relevant section:

...The military has paid for 19 sex-reassignment operations between 2008 and October 2015, at a total cost of around $309,000. That works out to about $16,200 per operation.

While the costs do not include any hormone therapy, Alan Okros, an expert on diversity in the military at the Canadian Forces College, said many service members receive such treatment for various conditions – not just sex reassignment.

By comparison, Veterans Affairs Canada spent nearly $20-million on medical marijuana last year.

I am an active serving member of the Canadian military (18 years now) and I'd like to point out that up here, no one gives a damn if you're gay, straight, trans, male or female, or a freaking unicorn. If you want to serve your country and you have the physical and mental capacity to, then have at 'er! And yes, as was posted above, in Canada the military will pay for your sex-reassignment surgery and all that it entails (if that's what you choose). It's way less money than we or any other military, US included, spends on necessary or optional medication, equipment, or paper for that matter. I get birth control and access to mental health services free of cost, too, and no one blinks an eye about either.

The US Defense Industrial Complex is ridiculous. Maybe if POTUS is concerned with his military budget that might be something to start with. We constantly hear about our southern brethren getting equipment that they don't want or need, but because some politician owes a favour to a lobbyist or a congressman wants another tank manufacturing plant built in his district, y'all get more Abrams tanks you don't need. And that's just one example.

I agree with PP that hormone therapy, mental health counselling and surgeries are potentially life saving. Forcing trans servicemembers to serve secretly is a step backward for no good reason other than a "policy" (cause tweeting doesn't equal drafting policy) rooted in transphobia, fear-mongering, misdirection, lies, and whatever hatred Cheetos is spewing about an any given day. The repealing of "don't ask, don't tell" took too long as it was. I expect better of a modern western nation.

For your reading pleasure: https://www.google.ca/amp/www.military.com/daily-news/2015/01/28/pentagon-tells-congress-to-stop-buying-equipment-it-doesnt-need.html%3fvariant=mobile.amp

If anyone wants to read the Rand Corporation's 2016 report on the implications of allowing transgender personnel to serve openly, I've included the link below. It's an interesting read, and I won't spoil it, but it calls BS to any budget related concern:

"We estimate that AC MHS health care costs will increase by between $2.4 million and $8.4 million annually—an amount that will have little impact on and represents an exceedingly small proportion of Actice Component health care expenditures (approximately $6 billion in FY 2014) and overall DoD health care expenditures ($49.3 billion actual expenditures for the FY 2014)." Overwhelming costs, indeed!

http://www.rand.org/pubs/research_reports/RR1530.html