The U.S. military will no longer allow transgender individuals to join its ranks and has paused all procedures related to gender transition for current service members, according to a memo filed in court on Monday by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
The new policy, effective immediately, follows an executive order signed last month by President Donald Trump, which took a firm stance against transgender service members.
Hegseth’s memo, dated February 7, states, “All new accessions for individuals with a history of gender dysphoria are paused. All unscheduled, scheduled, or planned medical procedures associated with affirming or facilitating a gender transition for Service members are paused.”
However, the memo clarifies that transgender individuals already serving in the military will be “treated with dignity and respect,” with additional guidance to be provided by the under secretary of defense for personnel and readiness.
This policy shift impacts the U.S. military’s approximately 1.3 million active-duty personnel. While transgender rights advocates estimate there are as many as 15,000 transgender service members, military officials suggest the number is in the low thousands.
The decision has sparked controversy, with critics accusing the administration of discrimination. A recent Gallup poll showed that 58% of Americans support allowing openly transgender individuals to serve in the military, a decrease from 71% in 2019.
Legal battles are already underway, with civil rights organizations filing for a temporary restraining order after reports surfaced of a transgender service member being told to either be classified as a man or leave the military. A U.S. judge has asked Trump administration lawyers to ensure that six military members challenging the order are not removed from service before further court proceedings.
