DENVER – President Trump issued a memo Friday to ban most transgender troops from the service if they require surgery or significant medical treatment. The rule is still under review by the Pentagon and the courts, since Trump announced his intentions last year.

One Colorado, the state’s largest LGBTQ organization called it an attack on patriots.

“For a second time, President Trump is attacking thousands of patriotic transgender Americans who serve in our military and who put their lives on the line every day to keep us safe and free,” One Colorado executive director Daniel Ramos said in a statement. “This is yet another example of this Administration using policy to attack the LGBTQ community, instead of bringing Americans together to fix the problems that face all of us.

“We have heard again and again from this President that he wants to support our troops and their families. Why are transgender soldiers and their families not worthy of the same support? Transgender people – like all Americans – should be judged for their qualifications, nothing more, nothing less. As we learned in repealing Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, allowing service members to serve with integrity strengthens our armed forces.

“Transgender people are our friends, neighbors, and coworkers. They are veterans who have served with honor and sacrificed their lives to protect our freedoms. They, along with the rest of our country’s veterans and active-duty service members deserve better, and we will fight against this vicious attack on dignity of transgender Americans.”

According to The Hill newspaper, White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders issued a statement that the ban was the product of “extensive study by senior uniformed and civilian leaders, including combat veterans.”

“This new policy will enable the military to apply well-established mental and physical health standards-including those regarding the use of medical drugs-equally to all individuals who want to join and fight for the best military force the world has ever seen,” Sanders said,

The memo can be read by clicking here.