US President Donald Trump announced via Twitter on Wednesday that he was banning transgender people from serving in the US military – an announcement that has been condemned by the LGBTQ community and human rights groups.

"This was a decision based on what was best for the military and military cohesion and on the counsel of his national security team," Sarah Sanders told reporters in her first briefing as Press Secretary. 

Trump noted that he wanted transgender people barred from serving in the US military "in any capacity," citing "tremendous medical costs and disruption." Trump's move would reverse the efforts made under former President Barack Obama to open the armed services to transgender people.

The White House did not say what would happen to transgender troops already in the military.