Washington DC (National Times): The United States Army has officially prohibited transgender individuals from enlisting and has halted all gender-affirming medical procedures for service members. The announcement follows an executive order signed by former President Donald Trump on January 27, which reinstates a ban on transgender recruits in the military.
Policy Update and Implementation
The Army stated in an official release that it “will no longer allow transgender individuals to join the military and will stop performing or facilitating procedures associated with gender transition for service members.”
The executive order directs the Pentagon to finalize a policy on transgender service members within 30 days. Effective immediately:
- All new enlistments of individuals with a history of gender dysphoria have been paused.
- All gender-affirming medical procedures scheduled for current service members have been suspended.
Background and Justification
Trump’s executive order claims that expressing a “gender identity inconsistent with an individual’s sex” conflicts with the military’s rigorous service standards. The administration has also argued that allowing transgender personnel to serve leads to “tremendous medical costs and disruptions.”
Despite the ban, the Army noted that transgender individuals who are already enlisted “will be treated with dignity and respect.”
A Wider Crackdown on Progressive Policies
The ban on transgender military service is part of Trump’s broader effort to combat “woke culture”, a term used by conservatives to describe progressive social policies.
Additionally, Trump has signed:
- An order requiring the government to officially recognize only two sexes—male and female.
- A directive barring transgender athletes from participating in women’s sports.
This shift in military policy follows a February 7 directive from US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, which had already put a hold on transgender recruitments and paused all gender-affirming medical procedures.
Trump’s Previous Stance on Transgender Military Service
During his first term (2017-2021), Trump had initially proposed a total ban on transgender troops but later settled on freezing recruitment while allowing those already serving to remain.
Future Implications
The policy change is expected to face legal challenges from LGBTQ+ rights organizations and activists. However, if a new administration takes office in the future, the policy could once again be reversed, similar to how Biden repealed Trump’s previous transgender military ban in 2021.
