On Thursday, the Pentagon announced a directive initiating the discharge of up to 1,000 openly transgender service members, following a Supreme Court ruling permitting the Trump administration to enforce a ban on transgender individuals in the military. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth emphasized a shift away from what he referred to as “wokeness,” stating that the military would no longer accommodate transgender identities. The Pentagon plans to review medical records to identify service members diagnosed with gender dysphoria, a condition where one’s biological sex clashes with their gender identity, and will force out those identified. Currently, about 4,240 active duty, National Guard, and Reservists are diagnosed with this condition.
Service members have until specific deadlines—June 6 for active duty and July 7 for National Guard and Reserve—to voluntarily self-identify, with approximately 1,000 already doing so. Those who self-identify will begin the voluntary separation process. The directive echoes an earlier memo issued in February but had been stalled due to lawsuits challenging the ban.
The Supreme Court’s ruling allowed the enforcement of this ban while legal appeals continue, with no explanations provided for the justices’ votes. Pentagon officials previously justified the ban by stating that health issues related to gender dysphoria compromise the mental and physical standards required for military service. Limited exemptions are permitted for individuals who can demonstrate their consistent support for warfighting activities without having transitioned. If granted a waiver, individuals will still be recognized by their biological sex in military settings. The estimated costs for transgender healthcare between 2015 and 2024 are approximately $52 million.
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