Energy Secretary Rick Perry says he supports President Trump's announcement this week that he will ban transgender people from serving in the U.S. military.

"I totally support the president in his decision," the former Texas governor said, according to The Texas Tribune.

"The idea that the American people need to be paying for these types of operations to change your sex is not very wise from a standpoint of economics," he continued. "I think the president makes some good decisions about making sure that we have a force that is capable."

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Perry, an Air Force veteran, is one of the few lawmakers supportive of the change.