The U.S. government has announced that it will quickly start removing transgender service members from the military. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth shared that this process will begin as soon as next month. The decision is based on an executive order from President Donald Trump, which reversed a policy that had allowed transgender people to serve openly in the military.
Hegseth’s memo, dated May 8, gives active-duty transgender personnel until June 6 to voluntarily separate from the military, with the possibility of receiving separation pay. For those in the reserves, the deadline is set for July 7. The memo states that individuals diagnosed with gender dysphoria are not considered fit for military service, as it may conflict with national security goals.
Around 1,000 transgender service members who have already identified themselves as transgender will begin the separation process, according to Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell. This comes after President Trump reversed a policy from the Biden administration, which had allowed transgender individuals to serve openly in the military.
Though the policy faces ongoing legal challenges, the U.S. Supreme Court recently allowed the Trump administration to proceed with the ban while the case is still being reviewed. Hegseth praised the court’s decision, calling it a victory for Trump’s agenda and the American people’s wishes.
Civil rights groups, including Lambda Legal and the Human Rights Campaign Foundation, condemned the ruling. They argue that the ban unfairly harms transgender service members who have proven their commitment to the military. These organizations believe the policy is rooted in discrimination and does not improve military readiness. They remain hopeful that the ban will eventually be overturned in court.
The decision to remove transgender individuals from the military continues to stir up strong reactions. While the legal battles are ongoing, the Trump administration is moving forward with its policy, leaving transgender service members facing an uncertain future in the U.S. military.
