US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth has implemented a ban preventing transgender individuals from enlisting in the US military.
A recently uncovered memo reveals that Hegseth signed the ban last week, prohibiting those with a “history of gender dysphoria” from joining the armed forces. The decision follows former president Donald Trump’s executive order laying the groundwork for reinstating restrictions on trans service members, reversing the 2021 policy change made under Joe Biden.
The memo further mandates the immediate halt of all “scheduled, unscheduled or planned” gender-affirming medical procedures for military personnel.
“The department must ensure it is building ‘one force’ without sub-groups defined by anything other than ability or mission adherence,” Hegseth wrote. “Efforts to split our troops along lines of identity weaken our force and make us vulnerable. Such efforts must not be tolerated or accommodated.”
While Hegseth stated that individuals already serving “with gender dysphoria” should be “treated with dignity and respect,” it remains unclear whether they will be allowed to continue their military careers.
The Human Rights Campaign (HRC) has strongly condemned the policy, calling it “dangerous and discriminatory.” The organisation estimates that at least 15,000 active-duty personnel are transgender or non-binary, though official figures suggest a lower count.
In response, the HRC, along with Lambda Legal, has filed a federal lawsuit challenging the ban, arguing that it undermines national security and disregards years of investment in training and recruitment.
“Thousands of transgender service members have already met the military’s rigorous standards and have more than proven themselves,” said HRC Vice President of Legal Sarah Warbelow. “Our military must be able to recruit the best candidates, retain the highly trained service members, and every qualified patriot should be able to serve free of discrimination.”
A recent Gallup poll found that 58% of Americans support allowing transgender individuals to serve in the military—down from 71% six years ago.
