Appeals court rules Trump policy illegally banned transgender troops from military
The court said the policy likely reflects bias, keeping protections for current troops while letting the Pentagon enforce restrictions on new recruits.
- On Monday, the Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia upheld a ruling blocking the administration of President Donald Trump from removing current transgender service members from the military, while allowing the ban on new recruits to continue.
- In January 2025, Trump signed an executive order claiming transgender identity harms military readiness, prompting Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to issue a policy disqualifying individuals with gender dysphoria from service.
- Judge Robert Wilkins wrote that the policy "appears to be driven by the bare desire to harm" a politically unpopular group, finding it likely violates equal protection guarantees under the Constitution.
- The ruling preserves service for approximately 4,200 current transgender troops, upholding a preliminary injunction issued by District Judge Ana Reyes that prevents their discharge while the lawsuit continues.
- Shannon Minter, an attorney for the Plaintiff, called the decision "a huge relief for these service members and their families," though he expects the government to seek a stay and appeal to the Supreme Court.
209 Articles
209 Articles
A U.S. Court of Appeal has approved the provisional exclusion of transgender persons from entry into the military. However, active soldiers may remain in service. The basis is an order from the government from 2025.
Donald Trump's crackdown on transgender troops ruled ILLEGAL as White House vows: 'We'll see you in court'
Donald Trump's crackdown on transgender troops serving in the US military has been ruled illegal by a federal court in a fresh blow to the White House's agenda. The ruling came from a divided three-judge panel of the US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia circuit on Monday.Judges claimed the Trump administration specifically drummed up the policy to bar individuals from serving based on their gender identity.Though despite their ruling…
Despite the legal victory for the demanding military, the outlook remains adverse for the LGBTQ+ community in the military sphere
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