Pentagon Orders Removal of Up to 1,000 Transgender Troops

Washington, D.C. – The Pentagon has issued a directive to immediately begin separating as many as 1,000 openly identifying transgender service members from the U.S. military, following a Supreme Court decision on May 6, 2025, that upheld the Trump administration’s ban on transgender individuals serving in the armed forces. The new policy, detailed in a memo released Thursday, May 8, 2025, gives active-duty troops until June 6 and National Guard and Reserve members until July 7 to voluntarily self-identify as transgender, after which the Department of Defense will review medical records to identify others who have not come forward. The move has reignited debates over military readiness, discrimination, and the rights of transgender service members.

The directive, signed by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, builds on a February 2025 memo that was stalled by legal challenges until the Supreme Court’s ruling. According to Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell, the 1,000 troops who have already self-identified will begin a “voluntary separation process.” Those who do not self-identify but are found to have a diagnosis of gender dysphoria—a medical term for distress caused by a mismatch between one’s gender identity and sex assigned at birth—face involuntary separation. The policy allows limited exemptions for transgender personnel who can demonstrate a “compelling government interest” in their retention, such as directly supporting warfighting capabilities, and who have not pursued gender transition while showing 36 months of stability in their sex assigned at birth without significant distress.

The Pentagon estimates that 4,240 troops across active duty, National Guard, and Reserve forces have a gender dysphoria diagnosis as of December 9, 2024, though officials acknowledge the number of transgender service members could be higher. A 2018 study by the Palm Center estimated up to 14,000 transgender troops among the 2.1 million total service members, while earlier reports from the Williams Institute (2014) and Rand Corp. (2016) suggested figures ranging from 2,150 to 15,500.

The policy marks a significant shift from previous administrations. In 2016, the Obama administration lifted a ban on openly transgender service, citing inclusivity and readiness. A 2016 Rand Corp. study found no negative impact on unit cohesion or operational effectiveness from allowing transgender individuals to serve. However, during his first term, President Donald Trump implemented restrictions that froze transgender recruitment while allowing some existing service members to remain. The current policy goes further, mandating the removal of all transgender troops unless they meet stringent waiver criteria, which include adhering to standards aligned with their sex assigned at birth, such as using corresponding bathroom facilities and pronouns.

Advocacy groups and legal challengers have condemned the directive as discriminatory. The National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR) and GLBTQ Legal Advocates & Defenders (GLAD) filed a lawsuit last month, arguing that the policy violates the 14th Amendment’s equal protection clause. “The scope and severity of this ban is unprecedented. It is a complete purge of all transgender individuals from military service,” said Shannon Minter of NCLR. SPARTA Pride, a transgender military advocacy group, emphasized the qualifications and contributions of transgender troops, stating, “No policy will ever erase transgender Americans’ contribution to history, warfighting, or military excellence.”

Critics, including Army Sergeant Kate Cole, a plaintiff in the lawsuit, argue that removing experienced transgender service members undermines military readiness. “I’ve spent more than half my life in the Army, including combat in Afghanistan,” Cole said. “Removing qualified transgender soldiers like me means an exodus of experienced personnel who fill key positions and can’t be easily replaced.” A coalition of 21 state attorneys general also filed a brief to block the ban, with New York Attorney General Letitia James calling it a “cruel” attack on transgender service members’ dedication.

Supporters of the policy, including Hegseth, frame it as a return to military focus on “readiness, lethality, and cohesion.” In a post on X, Hegseth declared, “No More Trans @ DoD,” echoing sentiments from his speech at a special operations conference in Tampa, where he vowed to eliminate “wokeness” from the military. The Pentagon’s memo asserts that gender dysphoria is “incompatible” with the high mental and physical standards required for service, a claim contested by advocates who point to transgender troops’ proven service records.

The policy also halts Defense Department funding for gender-affirming care, such as hormone therapy or surgeries, which cost approximately $52 million between 2015 and 2024 for about 4,200 troops, a fraction of the department’s $17 billion annual health budget. Approximately 1,000 service members received gender-affirming surgeries during that period, while 3,200 accessed hormone therapy.

Legal battles continue, with federal judges, including U.S. District Judge Ana Reyes, signaling potential rulings against the policy for showing “animus” toward transgender individuals. A March 2025 court order temporarily restored gender-affirming care for transgender troops, though the latest Supreme Court decision has allowed separations to proceed while lawsuits are ongoing. The D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals heard arguments on the policy this week but has not yet ruled.

As the Pentagon moves forward, the fate of thousands of transgender service members hangs in the balance, with implications for military diversity, national security, and constitutional rights. The debate remains polarized, with both sides citing readiness and fairness in their arguments, while transgender troops continue to serve under increasing uncertainty.

Sources:

• Associated Press, May 8, 2025

• NBC News, February 27, 2025

• Reuters, February 27, 2025

• The Washington Post, February 27, 2025

• The New York Times, February 27, 2025

• CNN, February 26, 2025

• POLITICO, April 24, 2025

• Defense.gov, February 25, 2025

17GEN4.com