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The Pentagon has been ordered to begin kicking out openly identifying transgender service members by U.S. Defense Secretary PeteHegseth, who issued the internal instructions in a memo on Thursday. Other service members will be given 30 days to self-identify.
On Tuesday, the Supreme Court allowed President Donald Trump‘s administration to start enforcing a ban on transgender people serving in the U.S. military that had been previously been blocked by lower courts.
“After a SCOTUS victory for @POTUS , TRANS is out at the DOD,” wrote Hegseth in an X post on Thursday, alongside a video of him vowing to “relentlessly pursue the President’s agenda.” Reading from the memo, Hegseth said: “In accordance with policy now reinstated, service members who have a current diagnosis or history of, or exhibit symptoms consistent with gender dysphoria may elect to separate voluntarily.” The Fox host then turned back to the camera, echoing his early statement: “This is what the American people voted for and we’re going to continue to relentlessly pursue it.”
According to The Associated Press, department officials have said medical records will indicate which service members have been diagnosed with “gender dysphoria, who show symptoms or are being treated.”
Following the Court’s ruling, Emily Shilling, a Navy commander, who had sued to block the ban along with other transgender service members, told NBC News: “Transgender service members have served this nation with courage, skill, and selflessness for years.”
“Iknow this decision will cause fear and doubt in the ranks. To those feeling shaken, I say this: stand tall,” Shilling continued. “You are not alone. You are part of a community that will fight for you, stand beside you, and never stop pushing forward.”
