SAN FRANCISCO, CA — Palm Center director Aaron Belkin issued the following statement in response to a White House memorandum reinstating a ban on all transgender military personnel.

“Instead of working to keep the American people safe, our Commander in Chief has taken aim at his own capably serving troops, contradicting the conclusions of the American Legion, former Chairmen of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, dozens of retired Generals and Admirals, 18 foreign militaries, and years of research conducted by the military itself and outside scholars. A billion-dollar witch hunt targeting thousands of current service members will not save the taxpayers money or strengthen the military but will cause disruptions and undermine military readiness, just as the failed ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’ policy did.”