The Pentagon has announced plans to discharge transgender service members, following a directive from President Donald Trump. According to a memo from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, those with a diagnosis or history of gender dysphoria will be removed from military service. The directive follows an executive order signed by President Trump on January 27, which states that gender dysphoria is incompatible with military standards.
The memo outlines that service members with gender dysphoria or those treated for it will be disqualified from service, with exceptions made only if they directly support warfighting capabilities. The military services have 30 days to identify affected personnel and begin separation actions. Transgender service members will be honorably discharged if they meet normal conditions, and voluntary separation pay will be doubled if they choose to step down voluntarily.
The policy has sparked backlash from advocacy groups and legal challenges. SPARTA, an advocacy group for transgender troops, emphasized that transgender individuals have served honorably in the military. A coalition of 21 attorneys general, including New York Attorney General Letitia James, filed a brief to block the ban, arguing it targets transgender Americans unfairly.
The Pentagon’s new policy also states that the military will no longer fund treatments related to gender dysphoria and requires service members to adhere to the physical standards of their sex assigned at birth.
The U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia is considering a motion to block the enforcement of the ban, with a hearing scheduled next month.
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