WASHINGTON, Feb 26 (Reuters) - In a significant policy shift, transgender service members will be separated from the U.S. military unless they receive an exemption, as outlined in a recent Pentagon memo filed in court on Wednesday. This decision effectively bans transgender individuals from joining or serving in the military. Advocates have described this move as unprecedented, as it extends beyond the restrictions previously placed by President Donald Trump during his first administration.
Last month, Trump signed an executive order that specifically targeted transgender troops, suggesting that an individual born male but identifying as female did not align with the values of humility and selflessness expected of a service member. The Pentagon announced earlier this month that transgender individuals would no longer be permitted to join the military, nor would the military facilitate procedures related to gender transition for service members.
The memo filed on Wednesday further expands the ban to include currently serving members of the military. It mandates the Pentagon to establish a procedure within 30 days to identify transgender troops and begin their discharge within the following 30 days. The memo emphasizes the U.S. Government's policy to uphold high standards for service member readiness, lethality, cohesion, honesty, humility, uniformity, and integrity. It claims that these standards are inconsistent with the medical and mental health challenges associated with gender dysphoria.
Transgender troops are not required to self-identify, and the Pentagon does not have an exact count of transgender service members. The memo notes that waivers will be granted only if there is a compelling government interest in retaining a service member that directly supports warfighting capabilities. Additionally, the service member must meet specific criteria, including demonstrating 36 consecutive months of stability in their sex without clinically significant distress.
During his first term, Trump announced a ban on transgender individuals from serving in the military, though he did not fully implement it, opting to freeze recruitment while allowing current personnel to remain. The current ban's scope and severity have been described as a complete purge of all transgender individuals from military service by Shannon Minter of the National Center For Lesbian Rights (NCLR). The memo's filing in court is part of a lawsuit brought by NCLR and GLAD Law, challenging the constitutionality of the January executive order as a violation of the Fifth Amendment's equal protection component.
U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth recently stated that individuals with gender dysphoria already in the military would be treated with dignity and respect. According to Department of Defense data, the military consists of about 1.3 million active-duty personnel. Although transgender rights advocates estimate there are up to 15,000 transgender service members, officials suggest the number is in the low thousands. A Gallup poll published this month indicated that 58% of Americans support allowing openly transgender individuals to serve in the military, although this is a decline from 71% in 2019.
Sign up here. Reporting by Idrees Ali, Phil Stewart, and Ismail Shakil. Editing by Gerry Doyle.
