Federal Judge Shuts Down Trump’s Transgender Military Ban

A federal judge has halted the Trump administration’s attempt to ban transgender Americans from military service, asserting that the policy unjustly targets trans individuals while evidence shows their inclusion enhances military readiness. U.S. District Judge Ana Reyes emphasized the government’s duty to ensure military capability but criticized the use of readiness concerns as a pretext to exclude marginalized groups.

In her ruling, Reyes, appointed by President Joe Biden, indicated that Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth’s February 26 policy, established under Trump’s “Prioritizing Military Excellence and Readiness” order, would systematically disqualify transgender individuals unless they obtained an exemption.

Though Hegseth refrained from explicitly naming “transgender” in the directive, Reyes noted that the phase “those with a gender identity that diverges from their biological sex” clearly referred to transgender service members. This distinction was called into question by several statements on social media, including an official tweet from the U.S. Army announcing the barring of trans individuals from military service.

The lead plaintiffs in the case consist of 14 active-duty service members, boasting over 130 years of combined military experience and multiple commendations, including a Bronze Star. They argued that Hegseth’s policy was hastily implemented and lacked substantive analysis, ultimately violating the Fifth Amendment through its derogatory language toward a vulnerable group.

Reyes pointed out that the Justice Department had acknowledged the plaintiffs’ honorable service, questioning why they and other distinguished soldiers faced discharge based on unfounded assertions. The Justice Department defended the policy, claiming that transgender service members compromise military readiness and disrupt unit cohesion.

Under Trump’s directive, it was articulated that trans individuals supposedly failed to meet necessary standards due to “medical, surgical, and mental health constraints.” However, Reyes contended that neither Hegseth nor Trump consulted any military leaders during the policy’s formulation, and that the lack of empirical support for its claims rendered them conjecture.

The judge’s order reinstates the military’s previous protocol prior to Trump’s executive order, preserving the current status of the plaintiffs involved in the case. A group of former military leaders filed an amicus brief affirming that the military had not faced any crisis since the inclusion of trans individuals in 2021.

Reyes clarified that her decision was not taken lightly, invoking the need for a balanced approach that respects both military preparedness and equal rights under the law. She noted that her ruling would not be enforced until Friday at 10 a.m., allowing for potential intervention by an appeals court. “In the self-evident truth that all people are created equal, all means all,” Reyes concluded.