A federal judge appointed by President Biden has issued a temporary block on the Defense Department's new policy regarding transgender service members.
According to Breitbart News, U.S. District Judge Ana Reyes granted a preliminary injunction against Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's directive that would bar transgender individuals from serving in the military without a waiver.
The ruling comes in response to a lawsuit filed by 20 plaintiffs who are currently serving or attempting to enlist in the military. Judge Reyes has given the Trump Justice Department until March 21 to appeal her decision. The case stems from President Trump's executive order issued on January 27, 2025, which prohibited transgender individuals from enlisting or serving in the military.
The executive order emphasized longstanding Department of Defense requirements that service members must be free of medical conditions requiring excessive treatment time. Secretary Hegseth implemented this policy through a February 7 directive that halted the accession of individuals with gender dysphoria and paused gender transition-related medical procedures.
A subsequent Pentagon memo issued on February 26 gave military services 30 days to begin separating troops diagnosed with gender dysphoria who did not receive waivers. The policy would affect approximately 4,200 service members diagnosed with gender dysphoria out of roughly two million active-duty and reserve forces.
Judge Reyes strongly criticized the ban in her ruling, emphasizing equal protection rights and citing studies showing positive outcomes of gender-affirming treatments.
A recent review by the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs detailed the costs associated with gender dysphoria treatment. Between 2015 and 2024, the Department of Defense spent $52 million on various treatments.
The spending breakdown included over $15 million for psychotherapy, approximately $3.1 million for hormone therapy, and more than $14.3 million for surgical procedures. These figures represent a significant increase from previous reports.
This financial data has become a focal point in discussions about military healthcare spending and readiness requirements.
The Justice Department immediately responded to the ruling, characterizing it as judicial overreach. White House officials expressed similar concerns about the scope of judicial authority over military matters.
Stephen Miller, White House Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy and Homeland Security Advisor, publicly questioned the extent of district court judges' authority over Armed Forces decisions. Secretary Hegseth showed support for Miller's position by reposting his social media statement.
The Pentagon's response has focused on maintaining operational readiness while adhering to legal requirements during this period of policy uncertainty.
The federal court's ruling temporarily blocks the implementation of the Trump administration's transgender military ban while legal proceedings continue. Judge Ana Reyes granted the preliminary injunction after reviewing evidence from 20 service members and potential recruits affected by the policy. The Justice Department faces a March 21 deadline to appeal the decision, with the potential for extended legal battles ahead.
