Edit General Articles

Defense Secretary Orders Immediate Halt to Gender-Affirming Care for Transgender Troops

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has issued an immediate pause on all gender-affirming medical care for active-duty transgender service members, according to a recent memo. The Feb. 7, 2025 directive also halts new military promotions for individuals with a history of gender dysphoria.

 

Sweeping Military Policy Changes

The policy shift follows President Donald Trump’s Jan. 28 executive order, which rescinded Biden-era protections allowing transgender troops to serve based on gender identity. The order states that receiving gender-affirming medical care is "incompatible with active duty service."

 

Hegseth’s memo reinforces this stance, stating:

"Efforts to split our troops along lines of identity weaken our Force and make us vulnerable. Such efforts must not be tolerated or accommodated."

 

Lawsuits Challenge the Ban

LGBTQ+ advocacy groups, including the Human Rights Campaign and Lambda Legal, have swiftly challenged the new policy in federal court. The lawsuits argue that banning transgender service members violates the Fifth Amendment’s equal protection and due process rights as well as First Amendment free speech protections.

 

Shannon Minter, lead counsel for NCLR, warned that the policy is already being enforced:

"The administration is implementing the ban even before its stated deadlines. Transgender applicants are being turned away, and transgender service members are being denied necessary medical care."

 

Upcoming Court Battle

A key hearing is set for February 18 in D.C. district court, where Judge Ana Reyes will preside. Legal experts expect the case to be a major test for transgender rights in the military.

 

With growing legal challenges, the fate of transgender service members hangs in the balance, and the outcome of this case could reshape military policy for years to come.