Pentagon orders immediate halt to transgender healthcare for military personnel as Trump administration enforces controversial ban affecting thousands of service members.
At a Glance
- Pentagon has stopped all gender-affirming healthcare for transgender service members effective immediately
- Defense Department plans to discharge service members with gender dysphoria who don’t resign by June 6
- Approximately 1,000 troops who self-identified as transgender will begin voluntary separation from military
- This follows Supreme Court decision allowing Trump administration to proceed with transgender military ban
- As of December 2024, 4,240 troops were diagnosed with gender dysphoria out of 2 million service members
Healthcare Ban Takes Immediate Effect
The Pentagon has abruptly halted all gender-affirming healthcare for transgender military personnel following a Supreme Court decision that allows the Trump administration to enforce its ban on transgender individuals serving in the armed forces. This action comes after a brief period when such care was reinstated under a federal court order. The decision to terminate these medical services was signed by Dr. Stephen Ferrara, the acting Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs, marking a significant reversal in military healthcare policy that has been in flux since President Trump returned to office.
The Defense Department has not only stopped providing medical treatments but is also moving forward with plans to discharge service members diagnosed with gender dysphoria who do not voluntarily resign by June 6. This deadline falls during Pride Month, timing that some critics have characterized as deliberately provocative. The Pentagon began implementing these measures immediately following the Supreme Court’s stay on a preliminary injunction that had temporarily protected transgender service members’ access to care.
Military Separation Process Begins
The Pentagon is taking steps to remove approximately 1,000 military members who have openly identified as transgender, while giving others a 30-day window to self-identify and voluntarily separate from service. This initiative follows a directive issued in February that was initially delayed by lawsuits. The 1,000 troops who have already self-identified will now begin a separation process from the military, potentially ending careers that in many cases span years of dedicated service to the nation.
“In an escalation of the Trump administration’s war on transgender Americans, the Pentagon has once again halted all gender-affirming health care for trans service members, just weeks after briefly reinstating it under court order.” sources report.
For service members who don’t take the voluntary separation offer, the consequences could be severe. The Defense Department has indicated it will review medical records to identify those who have not come forward. Those discharged rather than voluntarily separating may face a loss of benefits that would otherwise be available to them. This approach has raised concerns about the treatment of veterans who have served their country but now face potential discrimination based on their gender identity.
Impact on Military Readiness
The transgender ban comes at a time when the military faces significant recruitment challenges. As of December 2024, 4,240 troops had been diagnosed with gender dysphoria, representing only a small fraction of the approximately 2 million active service members. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has publicly supported the removals, a position that aligns with his previously stated views against women in combat roles and other progressive military policies implemented during previous administrations.
“The decision, signed by acting Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs Dr. Stephen Ferrara, comes despite a federal court’s preliminary injunction issued in April that forced the Pentagon to restore access to hormone therapy and other medically necessary treatment.” sources report.
Rae Timberlake, a spokesperson for Sparta Pride, an organization supporting LGBTQ+ service members, has emphasized that many transgender troops would continue serving if allowed to do so. Timberlake described the choice to leave as one made under duress rather than reflecting a genuine desire to end military careers. The Trump administration’s broader policy changes have also affected transgender veterans, with reports indicating cuts to healthcare services specifically for LGBTQ+ veterans who have completed their service.
