WASHINGTON, March 19 -- A US federal judge yesterday suspended the Trump administration's ban on transgender people serving in the military, citing the principle of equality and dealing a blow-if only temporary-to the US president's agenda.

Referencing the US Declaration of Independence, which states that all humans are "created equal," Judge Ana C. Reyes suspended President Donald Trump's late January order that excluded transgender people from the armed forces.

That suspension, however, will be put on pause until March 21 to give the government time to file an emergency stay at a higher court, according to Reyes' decision.

The order will nonetheless come as a blow to Trump's administration, which has made it a priority to strip prote...