The United States will begin discharging transgender troops from military service within 30 days unless they secure a waiver, according to a Pentagon memo released Wednesday. The directive follows President Donald Trump’s recent executive order aimed at barring transgender individuals from serving in the armed forces.
The memo specifies that service members diagnosed with or exhibiting symptoms of gender dysphoria will face separation unless granted a waiver. These waivers will be considered only in cases where retaining the service member directly supports military readiness and warfighting capabilities.
To qualify for a waiver, troops must demonstrate that they have never attempted a gender transition and have maintained stability in their birth-assigned sex for at least 36 consecutive months without experiencing significant distress or impairment in daily functioning.
A History of Policy Reversals
The policy change marks another shift in the US military’s stance on transgender service members, which has fluctuated significantly over recent administrations.
In 2016, under Democratic President Barack Obama, the military lifted its ban on transgender personnel, allowing them to serve openly. Plans were also set to permit transgender recruits to enlist starting in July 2017. However, Trump’s first administration delayed that timeline before ultimately reversing the policy entirely.
After legal challenges, restrictions on transgender service took effect in April 2019. Those restrictions were later reversed by Democratic President Joe Biden in 2021, allowing transgender troops to serve without limitations.
Upon returning to office in January, Trump reinstated his ban, arguing that expressing a gender identity different from one’s assigned sex is incompatible with military service.
Broader Political Implications
Transgender rights have become a divisive issue in US politics, with Republican-led states enacting laws restricting gender-affirming medical treatments and limiting discussions on transgender topics in schools, while Democratic-led states have moved to protect transgender rights.
With the new policy set to take effect in a month, legal challenges are expected, as advocacy groups argue that banning transgender individuals from military service undermines equal opportunity and national security.
