Defense Dept Cracks Down on Gender Dysphoria in the Ranks
Pentagon Orders Immediate Halt to Transgender Care
The Pentagon has ordered an immediate suspension of all gender-affirming treatments for transgender military personnel, affecting thousands of service members across all branches. This decision arrives after a legal back-and-forth that temporarily reinstated care under a federal court’s preliminary injunction in April, which has now been overturned by the Supreme Court.
Dr. Stephen Ferrara, the acting Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs, signed the directive that not only stops medical care but also initiates a process to remove transgender individuals from military service. The Pentagon has already identified approximately 1,000 military members who openly identify as transgender and has given others 30 days to self-identify or face potential discovery through medical record reviews.
Discharge Plans and Ultimatum
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has established June 6 as the deadline for transgender service members to resign voluntarily or face discharge proceedings. This timing has been criticized by advocacy groups, as it falls during Pride Month, which many view as adding insult to injury for affected personnel.
The Defense Department plans to discharge service members diagnosed with gender dysphoria who do not take the voluntary separation offer, potentially affecting their benefits and military records. According to Pentagon data, as of December 2024, approximately 4,240 troops have been diagnosed with gender dysphoria, representing a small fraction of the military’s 2 million service members.
Rae Timberlake, a spokesperson for advocacy group Sparta Pride, emphasized that many transgender troops would continue serving if permitted, describing the decision to leave as made under duress. The removal process comes at a time when the military faces significant recruitment challenges, raising questions about the operational impact of losing trained and experienced personnel.
The Trump administration has implemented broader policy changes affecting LGBTQ+ service members and veterans, including cutting healthcare for LGBTQ+ veterans through the Veterans Affairs department. Secretary Hegseth, who has previously expressed opposition to women in combat roles, strongly supports the current policy changes regarding transgender service members, aligning with the administration’s position on military readiness standards.
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