Alabama Senator Richard Shelby is featured in a new ad asking the Trump administration to stop its efforts to prevent transgender people from serving in the military.

Shelby, R-Alabama, is pictured along with 10 other lawmakers and former and current military leaders, in the full-page ad in USA Today. Also in the ad are Sen. John McCain, R-AZ; Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine; Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill.; former Navy Secretary Ray Mabus; Admiral Mike Mullen, former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff; Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-UT; former Army Secretary Eric Fanning; former Air Force Secretary Deborah Lee James; and Gen. Martin Dempsey, former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

Also included in the ad is Gen. Joseph Dunford, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, who was quoted as saying he was "surprised," by a tweet from President Donald Trump saying transgender individuals would not be allowed to serve in any capacity in the military.

"When asked, I will state that I was not consulted," Dunford is quoted as saying.

The Pentagon announced in 2016 it was lifting its ban on transgender troops. President Donald Trump vowed to overturn the decision, and in August 2017 issued a memo prohibiting the military from enlisting transgender individuals. Several courts have ruled the ban can't be enforced until lawsuits against it are decided.

Shelby's comments featured in the ad come from a 2017 interview with CNN.

"You ought to treat everybody fairly and give everybody a chance to serve," Shelby is quoted as saying.

In a later statement, Shelby said:

"We are a nation at war. I am confident that (Defense) Secretary (James) Mattis and DoD leadership can and will evaluate current personnel policy that will enable us to recruit, train, and equip an all-volunteer force. Any American who wants to serve our country and is able to meet those standards should have the opportunity to do so."

The ad was purchased by the Human Rights Campaign, Lambda Legal, OutServe-SLDN, American Military Partner Association, and Gender Justice League.

Last week, Defense Secretary James Mattis gave the White House his recommendation on what to do about transgender people in the military. What Mattis is recommending has not been released.