WASHINGTON (AP) — The military services are working diligently to finalize details and develop new guidelines for the removal of transgender troops from the force. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, in a memo issued late Thursday, reissued orders from earlier this year stating that individuals expressing a gender identity inconsistent with their sex are not meeting the necessary standards for military service. The new directive allows active duty troops until June 6 to self-identify as transgender and voluntarily depart from service, while National Guard and Reserve troops have until July 7 to do so.
Army Maj. Alivia Stehlik, a former infantry officer now working as a physical therapist, is eligible for retirement in three years but does not wish to be compelled to leave the military due to being a transgender service member. She emphasized her commitment to fulfilling her duties and meeting expectations despite the circumstances.
The military services are swiftly releasing new guidance to aid commanders in navigating the process, especially in handling complexities like deployments, being at sea, or requiring special orders or funding to meet the deadlines. Here’s an overview of the issue and what comes next:
What’s the background on the ban on transgender troops?
In 2015, former Defense Secretary Ash Carter proposed lifting the ban on transgender troops, leading to concerns among military leaders. After a study, he announced in June 2016 that the ban was lifted. President Donald Trump has long sought to reinstate this ban.
Six months into his presidency, Trump announced his decision not to allow transgender individuals to serve in any capacity in the military. This sparked a two-year process of refining the details of the ban amidst legal challenges. The Pentagon eventually outlined a policy allowing current transgender service members to continue serving and proceed with hormone treatments and gender transitions if diagnosed with gender dysphoria. New enlistments of individuals with gender dysphoria already undergoing treatments or transitions were prohibited.
President Joe Biden overturned this ban, but upon Trump’s return to office this year, he tasked Hegseth with revising the Pentagon’s policy on transgender troops. In late February, the Pentagon instructed the services to identify troops diagnosed with or receiving treatment for gender dysphoria by March 26 and to initiate their removal within 30 days. Legal battles ensued, with the Supreme Court ruling on Tuesday that the administration could enforce the ban while other challenges continue.
How many transgender troops are impacted?
There are approximately 2.1 million active duty, Guard, and Reserve troops. The Defense Department disclosed that around 1,000 service members have voluntarily disclosed their transgender status and are now beginning the process of leaving the military. Troops began self-identifying after the February directive, but the process was halted in late March due to legal issues. Defense officials are now reviewing these cases and determining the next steps. The exact number of troops affected remains unclear.
The issue of transgender individuals serving in the military is complex, and military branches are struggling with how to identify and address it. Defense officials have reported that 4,240 troops across active duty, the National Guard, and Reserve are currently diagnosed with gender dysphoria. Between 2015 and 2024, approximately 3,200 service members received gender-affirming hormone therapy, while about 1,000 underwent gender-affirming surgery. Previous estimates suggested there could be between 9,000 and 12,000 transgender troops, including those who may not have an official diagnosis or treatment plan.
In March 2018, then-Defense Secretary James Mattis released a memo detailing the data on transgender service members, revealing that 8,980 identified as transgender and 937 were diagnosed with gender dysphoria at that time. The question of whether military separation is voluntary remains unclear. A recent memo outlined two potential separation processes, with details still needing clarification.
Service members who voluntarily disclose their transgender status to commanders may be eligible for some separation benefits, such as cashing out unused leave or receiving unpaid bonuses. After June 6, the military will review medical records to identify any additional troops diagnosed with or treated for gender dysphoria and mandate their departure, potentially impacting their eligibility for certain benefits.
The current Pentagon policy allows for limited exemptions, such as transgender individuals enlisting to directly support combat operations, or existing service members with gender dysphoria proving they fulfill specific warfighting needs and are stable in their biological sex for over 36 months. Even with a waiver, individuals may still be recognized based on their biological sex for facilities and official interactions.
Military leaders have attested to the effective service of transgender troops across all branches, from enlisted personnel to special operations forces, without reporting any issues to Congress. Troops and activists argue that removing transgender service members would harm unit cohesion and overall military readiness. Individuals like Stehlik, who transitioned while serving in the Army, face losing benefits like pensions and health insurance if forced to leave before reaching retirement milestones.
Sarah Klimm, a transgender Marine veteran, believes that the removal of transgender troops would negatively impact military readiness, citing the absence of unit cohesion problems in the past nine years. Klimm, who retired just before the ban on transgender service was lifted in 2016, emphasizes the valuable contributions of transgender service members and the importance of inclusivity in the military.
“It takes a considerable amount of time and resources to train individuals in both junior and senior officer positions,” she explained. “This is not a role that can be easily filled.” ____This report includes contributions from Associated Press writer Geoff Mulvihill in Cherry Hill, New Jersey.
