The Department of Defense has ordered the U.S. Armed Forces to begin immediate screenings for gender dysphoria among service members, in compliance with President Donald Trump’s executive order reinstating a ban on transgender individuals serving in the military.
The directive, outlined in a Pentagon memo released Thursday by acting Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness Jules Hurst III, mandates that commanders assess service members for gender dysphoria during routine physical evaluations.
The order requires commanders to:
- Flag service members with gender dysphoria, a history of the condition, or symptoms consistent with it.
- Initiate individualized reviews of medical records for those flagged.
- Ensure the confidentiality of medical information, with disclosures restricted to a “need-to-know” basis.
According to the memo, all branches of the Armed Forces must submit compliance reports to the Pentagon by June 15, 2025. Those currently serving who wish to voluntarily separate due to the order must notify their command by June 7 (active duty) or July 7 (reserve forces), or risk a smaller separation package and potential involuntary discharge.
A senior defense official stated Thursday that approximately 4,200 service members are known to have gender dysphoria.
Trump’s executive order, issued in January 2025, revived a policy first implemented during his first term but reversed by President Joe Biden in 2021. That reversal allowed transgender individuals to serve openly and access gender-affirming care, including surgery and hormone treatment, funded by the military.
After a series of legal challenges paused the latest ban, the United States Supreme Court cleared the way for enforcement in a May 6 ruling, delivering a significant victory for the Trump administration’s reorientation of the military.
The reinstatement of the transgender ban is part of a broader campaign by President Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to roll back what they call “woke” policies embedded during the Biden era. This includes:
- The elimination of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives.
- Ending race and gender-based admissions in military academies.
- Restructuring recruitment and retention policies aimed at minority and LGBTQ+ groups.
Hegseth, a prominent Trump ally and former Fox News personality, has led the charge in reshaping the military’s leadership and culture since taking office earlier this year.
The change has drawn fierce criticism from civil rights organizations and LGBTQ+ advocacy groups.
“This policy is discriminatory, unnecessary, and rooted in prejudice rather than military readiness,” said a spokesperson for the Human Rights Campaign. “Thousands of transgender Americans have served honorably. Targeting them weakens the force, not strengthens it.”
However, supporters of the ban argue it restores discipline and cohesion to the Armed Forces.
“Military service is not a social experiment,” Defense Secretary Hegseth said in a recent address. “We’re returning to a model that prioritizes combat effectiveness, not identity politics.”
As the military shifts gears to comply with the executive order, both supporters and opponents are watching closely to see how enforcement unfolds in practice — and whether further legal challenges arise in response.
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