WASHINGTON, DC — Fifty-six retired generals and admirals signed a statement released Tuesday to President Trump warning that his proposed ban on transgender people serving in the military would degrade readiness. Trump announced the plan last week on Twitter but has not taken any public steps to direct the Pentagon in its implementation of the policy.

"The Commander in Chief has tweeted a total ban of honorably serving transgender troops," the statement said. "This proposed ban, if implemented, would cause significant disruptions, deprive the military of mission-critical talent, and compromise the integrity of transgender troops who would be forced to live a lie, as well as non-transgender peers who would be forced to choose between reporting their comrades or disobeying policy."

It goes on to challenge the White House's position that transgender service members place an undue financial burden on the military's medical care. It also says that 18 foreign nations have integrated transgender people into their militaries with no reported ill effects. (For more information on this and other political stories, subscribe to the White House Patch to receive daily newsletters and breaking news alerts.)