Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has enacted a policy that prohibits transgender individuals from joining the U.S. military, following a directive issued by President Donald Trump.
In a memo dated February 7, Hegseth stated, “Effective immediately, all new accessions for individuals with a history of gender dysphoria are paused.” Furthermore, all medical procedures related to gender transition for current service members have been temporarily halted.
The memo emphasizes respect for those who have “volunteered to serve our country,” but leaves the specifics of how current transgender service members will be affected to the under secretary for personnel and readiness, who is tasked with developing policy guidance.
Efforts to reach the Pentagon for clarification on the situation of transgender service members currently in the military were unsuccessful.
During a military town hall on Friday, Hegseth expressed his views on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives, criticizing the notion that “Our diversity is our strength.” Instead, he advocated for unity and merit-based judgment, saying, “Our strength is our shared purpose, regardless of our background, regardless of how we grew up, regardless of our gender, regardless of our race.”
This policy shift comes after a recent decision by the Pentagon to cease observing identity-based months like Black History Month and Women’s History Month.
An executive order from Trump last month directed Hegseth to revise medical standards to emphasize “readiness and lethality,” explicitly banning the use of “invented and identification-based pronouns” in the Department of Defense. It also stipulates that facilities for sleeping, changing, and bathing be designated by biological sex.
This executive action reverses a previous order by former President Joe Biden, which the current administration claims compromised military readiness and unit cohesion by accommodating “gender identity.”
The ban on transgender individuals serving openly in the military was initially lifted in 2014 under President Barack Obama. Estimates suggest there are between 9,000 to 14,000 transgender service members, though exact numbers are not publicly disclosed.
From January 1, 2016, to May 14, 2021, the Department of Defense reportedly spent around $15 million on transgender medical treatments for 1,892 active-duty service members, according to the Congressional Research Service.
These sweeping changes represent a significant shift in policy regarding transgender individuals in the military, prompting discussions about the balance between individual rights and military effectiveness.
