The Pentagon has officially ordered the U.S. military to begin identifying and removing transgender service members, giving military branches 30 days to establish procedures for enforcement. The directive follows a policy set in motion by The Trump administration, which aimed to ban transgender individuals from serving in the armed forces.
A memo sent to Defense Department leaders on Thursday outlined the new order, which requires military services to track and identify troops diagnosed with or receiving treatment for gender dysphoria by March 26. Once identified, the military will have another 30 days to initiate their removal from service.
This mandate raises concerns about how service members will be identified. With no clear system in place, military leaders may have to rely on troops self-reporting or even being outed by their colleagues. The process of enforcing the order remains uncertain, adding to the controversy surrounding the policy.
According to a senior defense official, approximately 4,200 transgender service members are currently serving in active duty, the National Guard, and the Reserves. These individuals now face potential removal under the new Pentagon directive.
While the Pentagon moves forward with enforcement, lawsuits challenging the ban continue to work their way through the courts. Advocacy groups and LGBTQ+ rights organizations have condemned the decision, calling it a step backward for equality in the military.
