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With Trump's transgender troop policy a divisive political issue, Pesqueira's case caught the attention of some presidential candidates who rallied behind him.

Congressman Joaquin Castro, D-Texas, called on UT to make up for the lost scholarship money, tweeting, \"It's not the students' fault they're losing these scholarships.\"

Castro met with Pesqueira on Thursday. The cadet tweeted that he was \"looking forward to working with him on finding a solution to this discrimination.\"

Another presidential hopeful, Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., tweeted a link to Pesqueira's story on Thursday, calling the Trump administration's new policy toward transgender service members \"bigoted.\"

Pesqueira had planned to enlist into the Army as a signal or military intelligence officer with the ultimate goal of ending up in public affairs, he told ABC News. But given the new policy toward transgender individuals, he said he likely won't continue ROTC, saying he has to pay out of pocket for other classes.

\"PHOTO:
Courtesy Map Pesqueira
PHOTO: Freshman ROTC cadet Max Pesqueira says he has lost his military scholarship at the University of Texas because he is transgender and now barred from serving in the U.S. Army under the Pentagon's new transgender policy.
>

If the policy were to change to allow transgender service members, Pesqueira said he would consider joining the Army through Officer Candidate School or a ROTC program at a graduate school.

While some of his fellow cadets have expressed support, Pesqueira said \"There are a fair share of cadets who are not supportive,\" including \"unfollowing\" him on social media.

But the cadet had high praise for his military faculty who he said have ensured he is not discriminated against in the program. He is also thankful to everyone has helped him along the way.

\"There are no words to express my gratitude,\" Pesqueira said.

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