In a controversial and far-reaching move, the U.S. Army announced that it will no longer allow transgender individuals to join the military and has halted all medical procedures related to gender transition for current service members. This decision follows an executive order from President Donald Trump titled “Prioritizing Military Excellence and Readiness,” which aims to reshape military policy by excluding transgender service members and limiting access to necessary medical care.
According to recent estimates, this policy change will affect approximately 15,000 active-duty transgender service members who currently serve across various branches of the U.S. military. Many of these individuals have built careers in specialized fields, including infantry, aviation, nuclear engineering, military intelligence, and law enforcement. For them, the sudden policy shift has created significant uncertainty and concern—not only about their military careers but also their access to essential healthcare services.
The Army’s announcement on Twitter stated:
“The #USArmy will no longer allow transgender individuals to join the military and will stop performing or facilitating procedures associated with gender transition for service members.”
A follow-up post attempted to soften the blow by adding: “Individuals with gender dysphoria have volunteered to serve our country and will be treated with dignity and respect.”
Despite this assurance, many active-duty transgender soldiers and advocates see this move as a direct attack on their identity and well-being. The executive order also raises concerns about what happens to transgender veterans—specifically, whether the Trump administration’s Veterans Affairs (VA) will continue to cover gender-affirming medical treatments.
Renewed Ban with Expanded Restrictions
This decision is reminiscent of the Trump administration’s 2017 ban on transgender individuals serving in the military. However, legal experts note that the new executive order goes further by introducing restrictions on speech. First Amendment attorney Jeffrey Lewis explained that under the new policy, identifying as a gender other than the one listed on a service member’s birth certificate could be considered “false speech,” which would lead to automatic disqualification from service.
“This time, the administration has taken the position that if a service member says their gender is different from what’s listed on their birth certificate, they are engaging in what the government considers ‘false speech,’” Lewis said. “They cannot serve in the military when making what the government deems false statements about their gender identity.”
Lewis predicts that the government will argue that military readiness and unit cohesion are incompatible with openly transgender service members—a claim widely disputed by advocates and experts.
“Lie or Leave”: A Devastating Choice for Transgender Troops
For those hoping to enlist, the policy leaves them with an impossible choice:
“If you’re willing to lie and check the box indicating you’re something other than what you believe you are, you could serve—provided you forego treatment and mask who you are,” Lewis said. “But if you’re honest, you won’t be allowed to join.”
For the 15,000 active-duty transgender service members, the stakes are even higher. They may soon be required to officially conform to the gender marker on their birth certificate or face discharge.
“I believe it will be presented to them as a choice,” said Lewis. “Check the box indicating you are male or female, and if that choice doesn’t align with your birth certificate, you’ll be discharged.”
In a memo issued earlier this month, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth officially paused recruitment of individuals with a gender dysphoria diagnosis and halted all gender-affirming medical care for active-duty personnel. This memo is now part of a case filed in the D.C. District Court challenging the legality of the president’s executive order.
Concern Grows for Transgender Veterans
The impact of this policy doesn’t stop at active service members. There is growing concern that these new restrictions could extend to the Department of Veterans Affairs, potentially affecting transgender veterans’ access to gender-affirming care. Advocacy groups have already raised alarms, warning that a rollback of medical coverage could leave thousands of veterans without essential treatments.
“This goes beyond active duty. Transgender veterans depend on VA healthcare for vital medical services, including hormone therapy and gender-affirming surgeries,” said a representative from SPARTA Pride, a nonprofit supporting transgender service members and veterans. “If these services are cut, it will have devastating consequences.”
Backlash and Support for Transgender Troops
Advocacy groups, service members, and allies have condemned the new policy, emphasizing that transgender service members have been serving openly for nearly a decade without any impact on military readiness.
“Transgender service members fill critical roles in every branch of the military,” SPARTA Pride said in a statement. “Their readiness and physical capabilities are no different from those of other service members. This policy change is not about readiness—it’s about politics.”
The timing of this announcement also coincides with other federal moves to roll back LGBTQ+ recognition. On Thursday, the National Park Service removed references to transgender and queer individuals from the website of the Stonewall National Monument, a historic site commemorating the LGBTQ+ rights movement.
The Bottom Line
For many transgender service members, this policy feels like a betrayal. “Many of these individuals re-enlisted under the promise of access to medical care and the ability to serve openly,” Lewis said. “Suddenly being stripped of that right is devastating—not just professionally but personally.”
The uncertainty about medical coverage at both the active-duty and veteran levels has left thousands of transgender soldiers and veterans in limbo. Legal battles challenging the executive order are already underway, and the outcomes could have far-reaching implications.
In the meantime, transgender service members continue to serve with courage and resilience. For many, this is a fight not just for their right to serve—but for their very right to exist authentically within the armed forces and beyond.
