The Pentagon has announced that transgender service members will be removed from the U.S. military unless they obtain a waiver on a case-by-case basis, according to a newly publicized memo. This policy follows President Donald Trump’s executive order issued in late January, which aims to bar transgender individuals from serving in the military.
Under the new directive, service members diagnosed with gender dysphoria or those exhibiting related symptoms will be processed for separation unless they qualify for an exception. To be considered for a waiver, individuals must demonstrate “36 consecutive months of stability in their sex without clinically significant distress or impairment in social or occupational functioning.” Additionally, transgender individuals must not have attempted to transition.
A separate memo issued earlier this month further prohibits transgender people from enlisting in the military and halts gender transition treatments for those currently serving. Disqualified applicants can seek a waiver if they can prove their service aligns with a “compelling government interest” and they are willing to adhere to gender-based standards.
This policy marks another shift in the ongoing debate over transgender military service. The Obama administration lifted restrictions in 2016, allowing transgender personnel to serve openly. However, Trump previously sought to reverse this in 2017, leading to legal battles that upheld his restrictions in 2019. President Joe Biden later revoked these bans in 2021, reinstating open service. With Trump’s return to office, the issue has once again resurfaced as a focal point in U.S. military policy.
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