Pentagon to Begin Moving Transgender Service Members

On Thursday, the Pentagon announced it will start relocating 1,000 service members who identify as transgender, while allowing others 30 days to self-identify.

This decision comes after a Supreme Court ruling earlier in the week, which upheld the Trump administration’s policy banning transgender individuals from serving in the military. The Department of Defense will be passing on medical records to identify those who haven’t made any progress in their transition.

U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegses shared his perspective following the court’s ruling, indicating a shift in the department’s stance. He mentioned in a post that the military would no longer recognize transgender personnel. Before the ruling, he expressed concerns about a lack of clarity regarding orientation and issues surrounding it, noting, “There are no more pronouns,” during a conference in Tampa.

Officials from the Department acknowledge the challenges in accurately counting transgender service members, although medical records indicate the presence of individuals diagnosed with gender dysphoria. These members often find themselves involuntarily removed from service.

As of December 9, 2024, there were reportedly 4,240 active-duty troops diagnosed with gender dysphoria, including those in the National Guard and reserves. However, officials concede that this figure may be an underestimate.

This latest memo echoes one that was sent out in February, but action was previously stalled due to various lawsuits.