Pentagon Announces New Policy on Transgender Troops
The U.S. military is set to remove transgender service members unless they receive an approved waiver, according to a new Pentagon directive.
This policy, revealed in a court filing, comes in response to an executive order issued by President Donald Trump in late January, which sought to restrict military service for transgender individuals.
“Service members diagnosed with or showing signs of gender dysphoria will face separation from the military,” the directive states. However, exceptions may be made on a case-by-case basis if retaining the individual serves a crucial military purpose.
For a waiver to be granted, the service member must prove they have not attempted to transition and have maintained stability in their assigned sex for 36 consecutive months, without significant psychological distress or social impairment.
New Restrictions on Transgender Recruits
Another Pentagon policy issued earlier this month bars transgender individuals from enlisting and halts gender transition treatments for those already serving.
The memo further states that individuals with a history of cross-sex hormone therapy, sex reassignment procedures, or gender dysphoria diagnoses are ineligible for service. However, exceptions may be made if the applicant meets all other military standards and their enlistment is deemed essential to national security.
Changing Policies Over the Years
The U.S. has seen shifting regulations regarding transgender military service in recent years. During Barack Obama’s presidency, a ban on transgender troops was lifted in 2016, allowing those already serving to remain and opening enlistment to transgender recruits by 2017.
However, the Trump administration first delayed that policy before ultimately reversing it. After a series of legal battles, restrictions on transgender service took effect in April 2019.
When Joe Biden took office in 2021, he quickly overturned Trump’s ban, stating that all qualified Americans should have the right to serve.
Now, with Trump back in office, his latest executive order has reinstated previous restrictions, declaring that an individual’s gender identity must align with their biological sex to meet military standards.
Transgender rights continue to be a major point of debate in U.S. politics, with Republican and Democratic states taking opposing stances on issues ranging from medical care to public policies.
