Pentagon orders immediate halt to transgender care in military, gives service members until June 6 to resign or face discharge.
At a Glance
- Pentagon has halted all gender-affirming care for transgender service members effective May 12, 2025
- Military members diagnosed with gender dysphoria must resign by June 6 or face discharge
- Approximately 4,240 troops with gender dysphoria diagnoses are affected by this policy
- The Pentagon plans to remove 1,000 openly transgender military members immediately
- Action follows a Supreme Court ruling allowing the Trump administration to enforce the ban
Pentagon Implements Immediate Ban on Transgender Care
The Department of Defense has ordered an immediate stop to all gender-affirming health care for transgender service members. This decision was signed by Dr. Stephen Ferrara, the Acting Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs, and follows a brief period when such care was reinstated under a court order. The Pentagon’s action comes after the U.S. Supreme Court stayed a federal court’s preliminary injunction that had temporarily forced the military to provide these treatments, effectively allowing the Trump administration to proceed with its ban on transgender service.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has made public statements against transgender troops serving in the military. The Pentagon is now implementing the ban with immediate effect following the Supreme Court’s decision, which permits the administration to enforce restrictions on transgender military service. The Defense Department has announced plans to discharge service members diagnosed with gender dysphoria who do not voluntarily resign by the June 6 deadline.
— Wayne DuPree (@TheDupreeReport) April 25, 2025
Thousands of Service Members Affected
As of December 2024, military records indicate that 4,240 troops have been diagnosed with gender dysphoria, representing a small fraction of the approximately 2 million active service members. The Pentagon has identified 1,000 military personnel who openly identify as transgender and has given others 30 days to self-identify or face potential consequences. These 1,000 troops will begin a voluntary separation process from the military immediately, while the Defense Department plans to review medical records to identify those who have not voluntarily come forward.
A previous directive issued in February was temporarily stalled by lawsuits, but since that time, approximately 1,000 members have self-identified as transgender. The current directive gives transgender service members until June 6 to resign from military service or face discharge proceedings. This ultimatum was notably issued during Pride Month, a timing that has drawn criticism from advocacy groups representing LGBTQ+ service members.
Concerns About Benefits and Career Impact
Rae Timberlake, a spokesperson for Sparta Pride, a group that advocates for transgender service members, has highlighted concerns about potential loss of benefits for those who do not accept the buyout offer. Timberlake emphasized that many transgender troops would prefer to continue serving if permitted, describing the decision to leave as one made under duress rather than by true choice. The Trump administration’s policy extends beyond active military members to also affect healthcare benefits for LGBTQ+ veterans.
Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has publicly supported the removals, a position that aligns with his previously stated views against women serving in combat roles. This policy implementation comes at a time when the military faces recruitment challenges across multiple branches. The Defense Department’s actions have been implemented following the Supreme Court’s decision to allow the administration to enforce the ban, despite ongoing legal challenges in lower courts regarding the constitutionality of these restrictions.
