US Military Policy Shift: Transgender Soldiers Face Removal Under Trump

On Wednesday, the United States government announced that the administration of President Donald Trump would begin the process of removing transgender troops from the military within 30 days unless they obtain a waiver on a case-by-case basis.

According to a memo issued by the Pentagon, troops may be considered for a waiver only if there is a compelling government interest in retaining the service member that directly supports military capabilities.

This memo was made public as part of a court filing in a case challenging President Trump’s executive order issued in late January, which aimed to bar military service by transgender personnel.

To secure a waiver, service members must demonstrate that they have never attempted to transition and show 36 consecutive months of stability in their identified sex, without clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning.

The memo stated, “Service members who have a current diagnosis of, a history of, or exhibit symptoms consistent with, gender dysphoria will be processed for separation from military service.”

Transgender Americans have faced a turbulent series of changing policies regarding military service in recent years. Democratic administrations have sought to enable them to serve openly, while President Trump has repeatedly attempted to keep them out of the military ranks.