Court Blocks Trump’s Decision to Ban Transgenders from Military Service

A federal court halts Trump's transgender military ban, citing constitutional concerns

A federal judge has blocked President Donald Trump’s executive order banning transgender individuals from military service. Judge Ann Reyes in Washington, D.C., stated in her ruling that Trump’s order to exclude transgender soldiers from military service likely violates their constitutional rights. She delayed the enforcement of her order for three days to allow the administration time to appeal.

Trump had signed an executive order on January 27, stating that transgender military personnel’s gender identity conflicts with soldiers’ commitment to an honorable, disciplined, and integrity-driven lifestyle. In response to the order, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth issued a policy that could potentially disqualify individuals with gender dysphoria from military service.

Gender dysphoria is the distress a person feels due to a mismatch between their assigned sex and gender identity. This medical condition has been linked to depression and suicidal thoughts. The plaintiffs’ lawyers argue that Trump’s order violates transgender individuals’ equal protection rights under the Fifth Amendment.

Government attorneys countered that military officials have broad discretion to recruit and deploy service members without judicial interference. Thousands of transgender individuals serve in the military, though they represent less than one percent of the total active-duty personnel.