The U.S. Department of Defense sets forth significant changes to its military personnel policies under Secretary Pete Hegseth's leadership.
According to the Washington Examiner, the Pentagon will initiate discharge proceedings for transgender service members within the next 30 days unless they qualify for specific waivers based on strict criteria.
The policy shift emerges from a court filing revealing a Department of Defense memo, which mandates military leaders to identify and process the separation of service members diagnosed with or showing symptoms of gender dysphoria.
This dramatic reversal follows President Donald Trump's recent executive order directing the Pentagon to implement policies aligned with the administration's stance on transgender military service.
The Defense Department has established stringent conditions for transgender service members seeking to remain in uniform. Service members must demonstrate 36 consecutive months of stability in their biological sex without significant psychological distress. They must also prove they have never attempted gender transition and agree to follow all standards associated with their biological sex.
The Pentagon's memo explicitly states its position on gender identity within the military structure. The department recognizes only two sexes and considers an individual's sex as unchangeable throughout their lifetime.
Senior military officials have 30 days to complete the identification process of affected service members, after which separation proceedings will commence. However, exceptions may be granted through individual waivers if retention directly supports combat capabilities.
The military's stance on transgender service has undergone multiple reversals in recent years. The Obama administration lifted the original ban in 2016, allowing transgender individuals to serve openly. Trump's first administration reinstated restrictions in 2019 after legal challenges.
President Biden subsequently reversed Trump's policy shortly after taking office. This latest change marks another significant shift in military personnel policy under the current administration.
According to a 2018 Palm Center study, approximately 14,000 transgender individuals serve in the military. However, the Defense Department maintains no official count of transgender service members.
The Modern Military Association of America strongly opposes the new policy. The organization challenges the Pentagon's position on gender dysphoria and military service compatibility.
MMAA released an official statement criticizing the policy's medical basis and potential impact on current service members. They argue that the decision undermines the demonstrated capabilities of transgender service members.
The Department of Defense plans to implement these changes through a comprehensive identification and separation process affecting thousands of service members across all branches. The policy allows for case-by-case evaluation through the waiver system, though the criteria remain notably restrictive. The Defense Department has committed to processing all cases within the established framework, potentially reshaping the military's personnel composition in the coming months. This development represents the latest chapter in the ongoing discussion about gender identity and military service in the United States.
