Increased Transgender Care for Military Under Biden Administration

Reports indicate that transgender care for U.S. military personnel and their minors has seen a significant rise since the Biden administration took office. Documents obtained by the Daily Caller News Foundation reveal that cases of “gender dysphoria” surged by approximately 82% during President Joe Biden’s first year. The Defense Health Agency (DHA) reported 17,596 unique patients diagnosed with gender dysphoria from 2014 to 2022, including 3,807 minors.

This information was initially uncovered by the Center for the Advancement of American Security (CASA) through a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) lawsuit and later shared with the DCNF. The Air Force Public Affairs office directed inquiries to the DHA, which did not respond in time for publication.

James Fitzpatrick, CASA’s director, speculated that this spike could be linked to individuals joining the military specifically to access these medical services, although he noted that recent restrictions might address this concern. “It’s troubling to see this priority being imposed on our service members,” he reflected.

Statistics show a doubling in diagnosed cases from 2,221 in 2020 to 4,034 in 2021. That’s over eight times more than in 2014, when records first began. Fitzpatrick remarked that this just highlights how the Biden administration has prioritized these issues, suggesting that this focus shifted dramatically right after President Biden took office.

White House press secretary Olivia Wales responded to these developments by asserting that the previous administration, led by President Trump, emphasized military readiness over what she called “woke gender ideology.” She emphasized the importance of maintaining elite standards in the military rather than shifting focus to non-combat-related issues.

The Pentagon has declined to comment on the documents due to ongoing legal matters. Internal Air Force documents further corroborate this trend, noting that new patient cases in 2021 surpassed the total from the previous three years combined. In response to this influx, the Air Force has reportedly added more nursing and administrative staff.

Fitzpatrick further reflected on how the military traditionally exists to defend the nation, suggesting that it should not become a venue for social experimentation with gender identity.

On January 25, 2021, President Biden signed an executive order reversing restrictions enacted by President Trump regarding transgender military service. Additional details emerged concerning the Air Force’s specialized unit for managing transgender medical care, known as the Transgender Health Medical Evaluation Unit (THMEU), which was established following a 2019 initiative.

The majority of minor dependents receiving care are quite young, with data showing that 2,081 of them are under 15 years old. Previous correspondence from the Department of Defense hints at potential legal protections for service members and civilians involved in gender-affirming care for minors.