DOJ appeals transgender troops ruling

The Department of Justice has appealed federal Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly's ruling that the government wouldn't be “irreparably injured” if the Obama-era policy of allowing transgender troops to serve in the military beginning January 1, 2018 remains. President Donald Trump’s administration previously requested the ban be enforced while the government appeals a different order blocking the ban. The DOJ appealed Kollar-Kotelly's decision to a federal appeals court in Washington DC. Government lawyers argued that implementing “a significant change” in the composition of the armed forces before a court decides the merit of such a case would “place extraordinary burdens on our armed forces and may harm military readiness.” Kollar-Kotelly ruled earlier the same day that former President Barack Obama’s order on transgender troops being allowed to serve openly in the military starting January 1 would be upheld. (CNN)