Trump Administration Appeals to Supreme Court for Transgender Troops Ban

The Trump administration has formally requested the U.S. Supreme Court to block a recent ruling permitting transgender individuals to enlist and serve in the armed forces. This comes in response to a broad district court decision from late March that affected all troops, rather than just those who challenged President Donald Trump’s executive order.

On Friday, the U.S. Appeals Court for the 9th Circuit upheld the lower court’s decision. The government argues that while its policy addresses concerns regarding gender dysphoria, it does not discriminate against an entire class of people. Gender dysphoria is recognized as a condition causing distress due to a mismatch between a person’s gender identity and the sex assigned at birth.

In a motion submitted to the Supreme Court, the Department of Justice asserts it has a strong chance to prevail in this case. They contend that the new policy closely mirrors those set by previous administrations. John Sauer, Trump’s solicitor general, cited expert panel findings that service by individuals with gender dysphoria could hinder “military effectiveness and lethality.”

Sauer also noted that the district court’s ruling encroached on presidential authority. Trump’s executive order, released on January 27, stated that adopting a gender identity inconsistent with one’s sex conflicts with a service member’s commitment to an honorable lifestyle.

A month following the order, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth implemented the new policy, reversing former President Joe Biden’s provisions allowing open service for transgender individuals.

Trump’s order has faced multiple legal challenges, including an ongoing case in the U.S. Appeals Court for the District of Columbia. A DOJ attorney noted in court this week that an appeal to the Supreme Court concerning the 9th Circuit decision was imminent.

Lambda Legal and the Human Rights Foundation, representing plaintiffs in the 9th Circuit case, expressed strong opposition to the administration’s move. They argued that transgender service members have been serving honorably for nearly a decade, meeting all service-based standards.

“The U.S. Supreme Court should reject the invitation to stay the district court’s injunction,” they stated, highlighting the ongoing litigation over the discriminatory policies in question. This latest appeal adds to the administration’s pattern of challenging federal court rulings that have thwarted various White House policies, particularly in immigration matters.