The Pentagon announced that it may lift the ban on transgender people serving in the military.

CNN reports that Defense Secretary Ashton Carter will consider lifting the ban after he plans to conduct a study about the "readiness implications of welcoming transgender persons to serve openly." Carter outlined a number of directives to both study the effects of transgender people and women in the next six months.

"At a time when our troops have learned from experience that the most important qualification for service members should be whether they're able and willing to do their job, our officers and enlisted personnel are faced with certain rules that tell them the opposite," said Carter. "Moreover, we have transgender soldiers, sailors, airmen, and Marines - real, patriotic Americans - who I know are being hurt by an outdated, confusing, inconsistent approach that's contrary to our value of service and individual merit."

The White House has been lobbying for the Pentagon to lift the ban since last year. Members of Congress has been notified of the study.

The New York Times estimates the number of transgender people serving in the military is close to 15,000. Unlike the "don't ask, don't tell" policy, which was lifted in 2011, the current rules has done little to keep transgender people out of the military.

The study will be led by Acting Undersecretary of Defense Brad Carson, who has been a supporter of transgender rights. The Human Rights Campaign, which is the largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender civil rights organization, praised the Pentagon decision.

Once the study is complete, Carter will make a decision on whether or not the ban should be lifted. Carter signaled unhappiness with the current policy.