Two leading medical groups said Tuesday no scientific basis exists for barring transgender people from military service, as President Donald Trump has proposed to do.

The American Medical Association and American Psychological Association both issued statements the same day Trump announced via Twitter he would reinstate a ban that had been lifted by the Obama administration. The White House has yet to clarify whether the ban would apply to current service members or only future recruits.

AMA President David Barbe said no medically valid evidence supports excluding transgender individuals from military service.

"Transgender individuals are serving their country with honor, and they should be allowed to continue doing so," he said.

Barbe also noted AMA supports public and private insurance coverage of gender dysphonia, as recommended by the patient's physician. Trump cited the cost of gender reassignment surgery for military personnel as one of the reasons for reinstating the ban.

"According to the Rand (Corp.) study on the impact of transgender individuals in the military, the financial cost is a rounding error in the defense budget and should not be used as an excuse to deny patriotic Americans an opportunity to serve their country," he said.

APA President Antonio Puente said his association has seen no evidence that transgender individuals have an adverse impact on military readiness or unit cohesion. He noted similar arguments were used to justify the Clinton administration's "don't ask, don't tell" policy, which barred openly gay or transgender individuals from serving.

Research "has found that the repeal of don't ask, don't tell appears to have enhanced the military's ability to pursue its mission," Puente said.

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