A recent Pentagon memo revealed plans to separate transgender service members from the U.S. military unless they receive an exemption. This move, which surpasses previous restrictions implemented by President Donald Trump, has stirred up unprecedented criticism from advocates.
Trump’s executive order last month targeted transgender troops directly, with the President questioning the compatibility of a man identifying as a woman with the qualities of a service member, such as humility and selflessness. Following this, the Pentagon announced that transgender individuals would no longer be allowed to join the military, and gender transition procedures for current service members would cease.
The most recent memo, disclosed late Wednesday, extends the ban to transgender individuals already serving in the military. It mandates the Pentagon to establish a process to identify transgender troops within 30 days and initiate their discharge within another 30 days.
The memo justifies this decision by stressing the importance of high standards for service members in terms of readiness, lethality, cohesion, honesty, humility, uniformity, and integrity. It argues that accommodating individuals with gender dysphoria or related conditions is incompatible with these standards.
While there is no obligation for transgender troops to disclose their identity, the Pentagon emphasized that waivers would only be granted in cases where retaining the service member directly supports military capabilities. To qualify for a waiver, the service member must demonstrate 36 consecutive months of stable gender identity without significant distress.
Critics, including Shannon Minter of the National Center For Lesbian Rights, have condemned the scope and severity of the ban, viewing it as a total expulsion of transgender individuals from military service. The memo was submitted in court as part of a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the executive order and alleging violations of the Fifth Amendment’s equal protection clause.
Despite the controversy, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has reassured that those with gender dysphoria already in the military will be treated with dignity and respect. The number of transgender service members in the military remains a topic of debate, with estimates ranging from thousands to as many as 15,000, contrasting with Gallup poll data indicating a decline in public support for openly transgender individuals serving in the military.
Edited by: T. Ismail Shakil
Proofread by: Gerry Doyle
