Pentagon Begins Process of Removing Transgender Personnel

Pentagon Begins Process of Removing Transgender Personnel

The Defense Department has started removing around 1,000 transgender troops.

Earlier this week, the Supreme Court lifted the injunction against President Donald Trump’s order banning “radical gender ideology” from the military while litigation continues.

The ban can continue as the case moves through the courts.

From the memo:

In accordance with policy now reinstated, Service members who have a current diagnosis or history of, or exhibit symptoms consistent with, gender dysphoria may elect to separate voluntarily; such Service members may also be eligible for voluntary separation pay. The eligibility window to self-identify for voluntary separation is extended to June 6, 2025, for Active Component Service members and July 7, 2025, for Reserve Component Service members. Additionally, the Military Departments will immediately begin processing for separation Service members who previously self-identified for voluntary separation prior to March 26, 2025. On conclusion of the self-identification eligibility window, the Military Departments will initiate involuntary separation processes pursuant to the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness Memorandum “Prioritizing Military Excellence and Readiness: Military Department Identification,” March 21 , 2025.

Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth said in a video on X:

Here at the Defense Department, we continue to relentlessly pursue the president’s agenda, especially on readiness. He put out an executive order a week into his presidency stating the prioritizing military excellence and readiness, that expressing a false gender identity, divergent from an individual’s sex, cannot satisfy the rigorous standards necessary for military service.

We agree, and so we implemented that policy. It was challenged in court. And of course, we appealed.

And two days ago at the Supreme Court our policy was upheld, and so we’re going to continue to advance that policy here at the Defense Department.

So in accordance with policy, now reinstated service members who have a current diagnosis or history of or exhibit symptoms consistent with gender dysphoria may elect to separate voluntarily. There’s a timeline here. And then eventually, involuntarily, if necessary.

This is the president’s agenda. This is what the American people voted for and we’re going to continue to relentlessly pursue it.

After a SCOTUS victory for @POTUS, TRANS is out at the DOD. pic.twitter.com/4WkEhSS3dL

— Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth (@SecDef) May 8, 2025

The AP claimed “it’s difficult to determine exactly how many transgender service members there are, but medical records will show those who have been diagnosed with gender dysphoria, who show symptoms or are being treated.”

The active duty, National Guard, and Reserve have around 4,240 troops diagnosed with gender dysphoria. The number could be much higher, though.

Trump’s order, which does not use the word transgender, reiterates that the military has a longstanding strict policy of accepting people with strong mental health, males & females are different, and you have to use the space based on your sex. You use the pronouns based on your biological sex.

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