The Navy is offering crew members and the US Marines identifying transgender voluntary, honorable discharges to hospitalize in order to comply with new gender identity restrictions, according to a memo released Thursday.
Noteissued by Navy Secretary Terrence Emmert, voluntarily accepts the offer or accepts “unwilling separation” to those affected until March 28th. The provisions in the memo cover captains on the Navy Seafarers, the US Marine Corps, the US Naval Academy and Naval Reserve Training Crops (NROTC).
“The Navy Division (Don) recognizes two genders: male and female. The gender of an individual is constant and is constant during a person's life,” reads the memo. “Gender discomfort is no longer qualifying for military service if an individual has a current diagnosis or history or has a matching condition.”
The order is the latest move to bring the military alongside President Donald Trump's executives. order In special circumstances, with few exceptions, effectively prohibit transgender members from providing services. (Related: Trump signs executive order banning federal funding for child gender changes)
US President Donald Trump will answer reporters' questions while hosting Ireland's Taojeech Michael Martin in Washington, DC on March 12, 2025 at the White House oval office. (Photo by Somodevilla/Getty Images)
“The chiefs of naval operations and the commanders of the Marine Corps will maximize the use of all available command authorities so that the affected personnel are given dignity and respect,” the memo reads.
To qualify for a subscription or achievement exemption, service members must show that they will not change their sex. They must also be able to demonstrate “stable for 36 consecutive months” by biological gender and be able to comply with “all applicable standards,” including new regulations on transgenderism.
Although estimates for the number of transgender service members vary, a DOD report published in September 2022 estimated that 1.7% of active service members in 2021 were “gender minorities,” including .4% identified as transgender.
The Army complied with Trump's orders on February 14, rejected transgender applicants and no longer supported sexual change. Defense Secretary Pete Hegses said on February 7th. Note Transgender individuals “failed to meet the strict standards required for military service.”
Former President Joe Biden lifted the initial ban on Trump's transgender service members in 2021. Over his four years, LGBT and transgender initiatives have found considerable growth in armed services.
The Navy did not immediately respond to a request for comment from the Daily Caller News Foundation.
All content created by the Daily Caller News Foundation is an independent, nonpartisan newswire service that is free to use for legitimate news publishers that can provide large audiences. All republished articles must include logos, reporter signatures and DCNF affiliation. For questions regarding our guidelines or partnerships with us, please contact licensing@dailycallernewsfoundation.org.
