The U.S. Department of Defense has issued a new directive requiring that all active-duty troops be screened for gender dysphoria during their annual physical exams, as part of the Trump administration’s policy to remove transgender individuals from military service.
The order, which follows a Supreme Court decision allowing enforcement of the transgender troop ban, sets a firm timeline for separating affected service members.
New Screening Policy Rolled Out
According to a memo released Thursday and signed by the Pentagon’s acting head of personnel and readiness, the Defense Department’s Periodic Health Assessment (PHA) will now include specific questions to identify troops with gender dysphoria, a condition defined as distress due to a mismatch between one’s gender identity and biological sex.
The memo directs commanders to initiate reviews of medical records for any service members with a diagnosis or symptoms consistent with gender dysphoria. Commanders are also encouraged to flag individuals within their units if they suspect such symptoms, a process that has already raised alarm among civil rights groups.
Trump Administration Reinstates Transgender Ban
The new policy follows President Donald Trump’s January executive order, which revoked a Biden-era directive that allowed transgender people to serve openly in the U.S. military.
Trump’s order states that gender dysphoria is “inconsistent” with military readiness and deployability, a claim not backed by detailed evidence or explanation from administration officials.
This move marks a full return to the ban first introduced during Trump’s earlier term in office, but which had been rolled back under President Biden. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who has supported the ban, is now leading the implementation following the green light from the Supreme Court earlier this month.
How the Process Will Work
Beginning in early June, active-duty transgender service members diagnosed with gender dysphoria will be required to voluntarily separate from the military or face forced removal.
According to Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell, about 1,000 service members have already self-identified and will begin the voluntary exit process. However, Pentagon estimates suggest that as many as 4,200 service members could be affected.
The timeline for separation is as follows:
- Active-duty personnel must separate by June 6, or risk receiving reduced benefits and facing involuntary discharge.
- Reserve service members have until July 7 to voluntarily separate with full benefits.
Those who choose to leave by the deadline may be eligible for voluntary separation pay, while those who do not will face lower severance packages and potential removal from service.
Growing Concerns from Advocates and Legal Experts
Critics argue that this policy could lead to unfair targeting of transgender troops and people who may not even identify as transgender but who experience gender-related distress.
Civil liberties groups and LGBTQ+ advocates warn that the screening policy encourages invasive questioning and discrimination, especially with commanders being allowed to flag personnel based on observed “symptoms.”
While the Supreme Court has allowed the policy to take effect, further legal challenges may continue, particularly if involuntary separations are enforced without clear medical justification.