Trump team dismisses reports he will discharge trans in military: ‘No decisions on this issue have been made’
President-Elect Donald Trump has been making headlines with potential policy changes that could impact transgender individuals in various sectors once he assumes office in January. Reports have surfaced suggesting that his administration may be considering discharging transgender military personnel, sparking concerns and backlash from advocacy groups.
However, Trump’s campaign spokesperson and future White House press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, has refuted these claims, stating that no official decisions have been made on the matter. In a statement to Fox News Digital, Leavitt emphasized that any policy announcements should only come directly from President Trump or his authorized representatives.
SPARTA Pride, a nonprofit organization supporting transgender military personnel, revealed that there are around 15,000 transgender individuals serving in the military worldwide, including in combat zones. This issue gained traction during Trump’s first term when he announced via Twitter in 2017 that transgender individuals would no longer be allowed to serve in any capacity due to purported medical costs and disruption.
Following legal challenges, a revised policy was implemented in 2018 that restricted individuals diagnosed with gender dysphoria from serving, unless they had not undergone gender-affirming procedures and were deemed stable in their biological sex. The ban faced further legal battles until the Supreme Court allowed it to stand in 2019. However, President Joe Biden reversed these restrictions upon taking office.
In addition to military policies, Trump’s stance on transgender issues extended to gender-affirming care for minors. In a video posted on Truth Social in 2023, Trump outlined plans to halt programs supporting sex changes and child gender-affirming treatments, proposing an executive order and congressional action to prevent federal funds from being used for such procedures.
During his recent presidential campaign, Trump also aired ads targeting transgender issues, including highlighting his opposition to biological males competing in women’s sports and criticizing Vice President Kamala Harris for her support of sex change procedures for incarcerated individuals in California. These controversial ads aimed to sway swing voters and emphasize Trump’s stance on transgender rights.
As these discussions continue to unfold, it remains to be seen how the incoming administration will address transgender rights and policies. Stay tuned for more updates on this evolving issue.
