WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Pentagon took steps on Thursday to begin the voluntary separation process for around 1,000 service members diagnosed with gender dysphoria, following a U.S. Supreme Court ruling earlier this week.
Supreme Court Ruling on Transgender Military Service
On Tuesday, the U.S. Supreme Court allowed President Donald Trump’s administration to enforce a ban on transgender individuals serving in the military while a legal challenge is ongoing in the lower courts.
Chief Pentagon Spokesman Sean Parnell commented on the ruling, saying the Department of Defense was encouraged by the court’s decision. It will allow the Pentagon to implement policies that prioritize military excellence and readiness.
Pentagon’s New Guidance
Following the ruling, the U.S. Department of Defense announced it would issue new guidance to the military services. This guidance will end the recruitment of individuals diagnosed with gender dysphoria, including those with symptoms or a history of the condition. It also means halting any non-medically necessary treatments for those diagnosed.
According to the Pentagon, about 1,000 service members have self-identified as having gender dysphoria.
Voluntary and Involuntary Separation Process
The Pentagon will allow a 30-day voluntary separation period for Active Component Service members, and a 60-day period for Reserve Component Service members. After these periods, the Department of Defense will begin processing involuntary separations for those who do not voluntarily separate.
Secretary Pete Hegseth’s Statement
Shortly after taking office, Department of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed that the military branches would begin the separation process for service members diagnosed with gender dysphoria. He discussed the matter at Special Operations Forces Week on Tuesday, emphasizing that the focus should remain on the “warrior” aspect of military service.
“Everything starts and ends with warriors, from training to the battlefield,” Hegseth said. He also made comments criticizing “wokeness” in the military, stating, “We are leaving wokeness and weakness behind. No more pronouns. No more climate change obsession. No more emergency vaccine mandates. No more dudes in dresses, we’re done with that [expletive].”