Pentagon Orders Transgender Troop Separation by June

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has ordered that openly transgender U.S. service members with a diagnosis of gender dysphoria must voluntarily separate from the military by June 6 for active-duty and July 7 for reservists, following a recent Supreme Court decision. The policy revives former President Trump's ban, also prohibiting new enlistments of individuals with gender dysphoria. While exemptions may be granted for those demonstrating key warfighting roles, recipients must agree to recognize only their biological sex in all military matters. The Pentagon will identify non-self-reporting transgender troops through medical record reviews. Transgender rights advocates have criticized the policy as discriminatory and regressive, while the administration maintains it is needed for military readiness. The policy reverses Biden-era inclusion rules and is the subject of ongoing legal and societal debate.