A former Army secretary in the Obama administration said he was "shocked" that President Donald Trump "would turn his back on thousands of patriotic Americans," referring to the president's new ban on transgender people serving in the military.
Eric Fanning, the first openly gay service secretary who served as Secretary of the Army for just 248 days, told NBC's "Today" show that Trump's decision dismisses the service of transgendered military members.
"Frankly, I was shocked that the commander in chief would turn his back on thousands of patriotic Americans who are serving today," Fanning told "Today."
"If you're a transgendered service member anywhere in the world, you are already nervous by what you were hearing. And now you're probably very confused, very frightened about what the future holds for you when your commander in chief tweets a message like this, basically dismissing your service," Fanning said.
Fanning was asked about the concern of millions of Americans who don't believe in, do not subscribe to the idea that thousands of people should get free gender-changing surgery by joining the military.
"It's a medical issue," Fanning told "Today."
"If someone is qualified to serve, raises his or her right hand, makes that commitment to possibly put their life on the line, one of the things they get as part of that commitment is healthcare and we treat this, should treat this, like any other medical issue," Fanning said.
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