The Pentagon announced that within 30 days, it will implement a procedure to identify transgender service members and begin discharging them from the military. This directive follows President Donald Trump’s updated policy, which extends his previous ban on transgender enlistees to also include the removal of those already serving.
LGBTQ advocacy groups, along with several attorneys general, have filed lawsuits challenging the policy, aiming to block its enforcement. Trump’s directive further restricts military service for transgender individuals by halting gender-affirming healthcare and ceasing to accept transgender enlistees. Critics argue that the policy undermines military readiness by discharging qualified service members without justification, potentially harming national security. The ban will allow exemptions only if there is a compelling government interest related to warfighting capabilities and if the service member has shown 36 months of stability without distress. The Pentagon estimates that between 3,000 and 15,000 transgender service members could be affected. Advocacy groups, such as SPARTA, Lambda Legal, and the Human Rights Campaign, strongly condemned the policy, calling it discriminatory and harmful to both the individuals affected and national security. They argue that transgender service members have made significant contributions to the military and should not be forced out due to their identity.
