PORTSMOUTH, Va.(WAVY) — U.S. District Judge Ana Reyes of Washington, D.C. on Tuesday night ruled a Trump administration executive order violates the Equal Protection Clause and a ban on transgender troops in the military "is soaked in animus." Stacie Wells, chief executive officer of the LGBT L ife Center in Norfolk, said the order moves America back in time. "It's unfortunate because the consequences of elections are real [in] every election, and it's more true now than ever before," Walls said. Walls added that the so-called Department of Government Efficiency plan is a smokescreen for identity politics, and in some cases, hate. The preliminary injunction goes into effect Friday to give the White House time to appeal the ruling. NBC News has reported that those identified by the Department of Defense as transgender will be disqualified from service and must be removed from their jobs, and it's estimated some 15,000 active duty and reserve troops are transgender. Under the executive order issued late last month, servicemembers are required to use pronouns and salutations that align with their sex at birth. A memo obtained by NBC News also states that the Defense Department will not be allowed to use money for transition-related care, including hormone therapy and surgeries, will not be allowed, with all scheduled surgeries being canceled. The memo also states that servicemembers can continue to receive hormone replacement therapy until they are separated from the military if a doctor recommends it. ...read more read less