WASHINGTON, Jan 4 (Reuters) - In a legal victory for U.S. President Donald Trump's administration, a federal appeals court on Friday threw out a lower court ruling that blocked a policy barring certain transgender people from serving in the U.S. armed forces, which the government said is important for military readiness.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit overturned a decision by a federal judge in Washington, D.C. to block the Trump policy because it likely violates the constitutional rights of transgender recruits and service members.

The victory is limited, however. Though the appeals court sided with the administration, other federal courts issued injunctions against the policy, which applied nationwide. The administration has already asked the Supreme Court to weigh in on the issue.

(Reporting by Lawrence Hurley, additional reporting by Andrew Chung Editing by Susan Thomas)

15 PHOTOS Actors who served in the military See Gallery Actors who served in the military Chuck Norris Air Force, 1958-62 (Photo by Gilbert Carrasquillo/Getty Images) James Earl Jones Army, 1952 (Photo by John Paul Filo/CBS via Getty Images) (Photo by John Paul Filo/CBS via Getty Images) Jamie Farr Army (Photo by Jerritt Clark/WireImage) Mel Brooks Army, World War II (Photo by Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP) Clint Eastwood Army 1950-51 (AP Photo/Eric Risberg) Bill Cosby Navy, Hospital Corpsman (AP Photo/Matt Rourke) Robert Duvall Army, 1953-54 (Photo by Casey Curry/Invision/AP) Ice-T Army, 1979-83 (Photo by Andy Kropa/Invision/AP) Don Knotts Army (Photo by NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images) Elvis Presley Army (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images) Tom Selleck Army National Guard (Photo by Craig Blankenhorn/CBS via Getty Images) Gene Wilder Army, 1956-58 (Photo by: Art Selby & Al Levine/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images) Mr. T Army, 1975 Photo by: NBCU Photo Bank Ernest Borgnine Navy, World War II (1935-45) (Photo by Bob Riha, Jr./Getty Images) Paul Newman Navy, World War II (Photo by Tom Wargacki/WireImage) Up Next See Gallery Discover More Like This HIDE CAPTION SHOW CAPTION of SEE ALL BACK TO SLIDE

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