A federal judge in Washington D.C. has temporarily halted the Trump administration's attempt to prohibit transgender individuals from serving in the U.S. military. U.S. District Judge Ana C. Reyes issued a preliminary injunction that prevents the Department of Defense from implementing a policy aimed at removing transgender service members.
In her detailed and emphatic ruling, Reyes argued that the proposed ban infringes on the constitutional rights of transgender troops. She noted the paradox that many transgender service members have risked their lives to protect the very rights that the ban seeks to deny them.
This injunction is the latest in a series of federal court actions that have paused or blocked President Trump's executive orders. Critics of Trump worry that continued defiance of court rulings could lead to a constitutional crisis. Although Trump has stated he will appeal unfavorable decisions, he has also been openly critical of judges who rule against him.
The U.S. military comprises about 1.3 million personnel, with the Defense Department estimating that approximately 4,240 active duty members, or less than 1%, experience gender dysphoria. However, the Palm Center, an organization advocating for LGBTQ+ inclusion in the military, estimated in 2018 that there are about 14,700 transgender troops.
The legal challenge was initiated by six transgender service members and two prospective members in response to a January 27 executive order that sought to ban transgender individuals from military service. The order claimed that transgender identity was detrimental to military readiness, suggesting that the military was being influenced by radical gender ideologies.
Judge Reyes criticized this reasoning, stating that while the President has a duty to ensure military readiness, this concern has historically been used to exclude marginalized groups from service.
In February, the Pentagon began implementing the order with a policy memo that labeled individuals with gender dysphoria as "incompatible" with military service, outlining procedures to identify and separate such service members.
On the campaign trail for 2024, Trump has taken a critical stance on issues related to transgender rights, including military service restrictions and other policies affecting transgender individuals. Recently, the Department of Veterans Affairs announced a reduction in medical treatment access for veterans with gender dysphoria.
The decision was welcomed by GLAD Law, one of the LGBTQ+ legal groups representing the plaintiffs. Jennifer Levi, Senior Director of Transgender and Queer Rights at GLAD Law, praised the ruling, stating it clearly exposes how the ban targets and undermines the dedication of transgender service members.