The Pentagon has initiated a directive to expel nearly 1,000 openly transgender service members following a Supreme Court decision allowing the Trump administration to enforce a ban on transgender individuals in the military. The new policy, issued by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, also requires other transgender personnel to self-identify within 30 days. Hegseth’s recent remarks emphasized a shift away from “wokeness,” promoting the idea of traditional military standards and rejecting policies conducive to gender identity recognition.
The Defense Department aims to identify transgender service members through medical records and a diagnosis of gender dysphoria, a condition in which an individual’s biological sex does not align with their gender identity. Currently, approximately 4,240 troops are diagnosed with this condition. Effective from December 9, 2024, no new applicants with gender dysphoria will be allowed to enlist, and those already diagnosed may face involuntary discharge.
The recent memo also sets deadlines for self-identification—active duty members have until June 6, while National Guard and Reserve members have until July 7. Although tracking gender identity changes may be challenging, identifying those with gender dysphoria is straightforward through their medical history.
This policy has been defended by Pentagon officials, who argue that medical conditions associated with gender dysphoria impede the high mental and physical standards required for military service. Limited exemptions may allow some individuals to enlist, provided they can demonstrate stability in their biological sex for a specific period and meet additional criteria. However, even with exemptions, recognition of their gender identity remains constrained to biological classifications in various military contexts.
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