The United States military has announced a significant policy shift, declaring that it will no longer accept transgender individuals seeking to enlist and will halt gender affirmation procedures for active service members. This decision, communicated through a memo from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, comes as part of the Trump administration’s ongoing efforts to reverse protections for transgender individuals within the armed forces.
The memo, filed in the U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C., on February 7, effectively pauses all new accessions for individuals with a history of gender dysphoria. It also suspends any scheduled or planned medical procedures related to gender transition for current service members. The administration has framed these restrictions as necessary for maintaining military readiness, criticizing what it terms the promotion of “radical gender ideology” in the military.
Critics of the memo argue that it perpetuates discrimination and forces transgender service members into secrecy and fear. Advocates estimate that approximately 15,000 transgender individuals currently serve in the U.S. military, which has a total active-duty population of about 1.3 million.
Public opinion appears to be shifting regarding the acceptance of transgender individuals in the military. A recent Gallup poll indicated that 58 percent of Americans support allowing openly transgender people to serve, a decline from 71 percent in 2019. This decrease has been attributed largely to changing attitudes among Republicans and independents.
The Trump administration’s stance on transgender issues is not new; during his first term, Trump attempted to bar transgender individuals from military service. Although former President Joe Biden repealed this restriction, Trump has renewed his campaign against transgender rights upon returning to office. His executive orders have included denying the recognition of “self-assessed gender identity” and emphasizing traditional gender roles in military service.
In response to the recent policy changes, civil rights organizations have filed for a temporary restraining order against the ban, representing several transgender service members. One plaintiff, Army Sergeant Kate Cole, expressed concern that removing qualified transgender soldiers would lead to a loss of experienced personnel, destabilizing the armed forces.
The campaign against transgender rights has extended beyond the military, with Trump signing an order that threatens to cut funding for schools permitting transgender women to compete in women’s sports. Additionally, the Utah state legislature recently approved a bill restricting transgender college students from living in dorms aligned with their gender identity, marking a troubling trend in state-level policies targeting transgender individuals.
As the debate over transgender rights continues, the implications of these policies will likely resonate throughout the military and beyond, affecting the lives of countless individuals and the fabric of American society.