Appeals court keeps Trump transgender troop ban on hold amid legal fight
The Trump administration faced a setback on Monday as a U.S. appeals court rejected its request to pause a lower court ruling that blocked its ban on transgender military service members. The three-judge panel on the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals denied the administration’s request for an administrative stay, allowing the lower court’s preliminary injunction to remain in place for the time being.
The ban, which was put in place by President Trump shortly after taking office, has faced legal challenges from the start. U.S. District Judge Benjamin Settle issued a preliminary injunction blocking the administration from identifying and removing transgender service members while the case proceeds in lower court. The government has argued that the ban is necessary to maintain military readiness, unit cohesion, and discipline, but judges have questioned the rationale behind the policy.
Judge Ana Reyes, who also temporarily blocked the ban, highlighted the significant contributions of transgender service members, noting their years of service, deployments, and commendations. Despite this, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit granted the administration an administrative stay, pending further review of the case.
The legal battle over the transgender military ban is just one of many contentious issues that may eventually make their way to the Supreme Court. President Trump’s executive order on the ban has sparked fierce debate, with plaintiffs arguing that it unfairly targets transgender individuals and infringes on their rights.
As the case continues to unfold in the courts, it remains to be seen how the Trump administration will proceed in its efforts to enforce the ban. The outcome of this legal battle could have far-reaching implications for transgender individuals serving in the U.S. armed forces.
Breanne Deppisch, a national politics reporter for Fox News Digital, has been closely following the case and providing updates on the latest developments. Stay tuned for more updates on this evolving story.
