Pentagon Orders Military to Identify and Remove Transgender Troops Within 30 Days
The US military has about 30 days to identify and remove transgender service members following President Donald Trump's executive order to ban transgender individuals from serving in the military. Under the order, services are to establish procedures to identify troops diagnosed with or being treated for gender dysphoria by March 26 and to begin removing those troops from service within 30 days.
According to a senior defense official, approximately 4,200 troops are currently serving with a diagnosis of gender dysphoria. The official also noted that a total of $52 million was used for psychotherapy, gender-affirming hormone therapy, gender-affirming surgery, and other treatment for service members between 2015-2024.
At the present time, there are about 2.1 million troops serving.
Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth intend to remove them, contending that their medical condition does not satisfy military standards.
"The medical, surgical, and mental health constraints on individuals who have a current diagnosis or history of, or exhibit symptoms consistent with, gender dysphoria are incompatible with the high mental and physical standards necessary for military service," Darin Selnick, defense undersecretary for personnel, said in a memo sent to Defense Department leaders on Thursday.
It declares that gender is "immutable, unchanging during a person's life," and the military's lethality and integrity "are inconsistent" with the experiences of transgender troops in light of their transition to their preferred gender of choice.
The policy, however, has been challenged in court by six transgender members and has sparked concerns about the treatment of transgender service members, Associated Press reports.
"All of a sudden, you are going to be required to out yourself. Other people are going to be required to out you," Sarah Warbelow, vice president for legal affairs for the Human Rights Campaign, said. "If you've got a best friend in the military who happens to know that you are transgender, under this new guidance, they're required — if you are a woman who is transgender — they're required to start referring to you as 'he' and 'sir,' as of today."
According to Warbelow, troops are forced to decide "between the safety of their friends and violating direct orders." She added that transgender military members could also feel pressured to self-identify. Otherwise, they may face consequences if they choose not to come forward.
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Originally published February 28, 2025.
