The U.S. military is set to begin removing transgender personnel from service unless they can secure a waiver, according to a new directive issued by the Pentagon. The memo, made public as part of a court filing, reveals that members of the military who identify as transgender will be processed for separation from the armed forces within the next 30 days unless they meet specific criteria to remain in service.
The Pentagon’s decision follows the signing of an executive order by President Donald Trump in late January, which reintroduced a ban on transgender individuals serving in the military. The controversial order has sparked protests from human rights groups and some service members, while supporters argue that it is a necessary step to preserve military readiness.
According to the memo, which was issued on Wednesday, members of the military who have a diagnosis of gender dysphoria or display symptoms consistent with the condition will be required to leave service. The memo also states that the military will only recognize two sexes: male and female.
“Service members who have a current diagnosis or history of, or exhibit symptoms consistent with, gender dysphoria will be processed for separation from military service,” the memo read. “The department only recognises two sexes: male and female.”
This move is a direct result of the Trump administration’s stance on the issue, which was part of a broader push to reverse the policies introduced under President Barack Obama. Obama’s administration had lifted the ban on transgender individuals serving in the military in 2016, allowing transgender people to serve openly for the first time in U.S. history.
The issue of transgender personnel in the military has long been a point of contention in the U.S., with political debates often intersecting with wider societal discussions about LGBTQ+ rights. While supporters of the transgender military ban argue that it is a matter of military readiness and unit cohesion, opponents see it as discriminatory and a violation of basic human rights.
The history of transgender service members in the U.S. military is a complicated one, with the policy on their inclusion shifting several times over the years. Before 2016, transgender individuals were banned from serving in the military outright, largely based on the belief that being transgender presented a barrier to military service. The military claimed that it was concerned about the potential medical costs and disruptions to unit cohesion.
However, during the Obama administration, the ban was lifted, and in 2016, then-Defense Secretary Ash Carter announced that transgender individuals would be allowed to serve openly in the armed forces. The policy allowed transgender people to enlist and serve openly, with the military offering healthcare to those who needed gender-affirming treatment.
Trump’s executive order signed in January was a reaffirmation of that policy, and it aims to close the loopholes that allowed some transgender service members to remain in the military. The executive order states that transgender individuals are no longer permitted to serve unless they meet specific conditions, including having a history of gender dysphoria or being diagnosed with the condition.
