Defense Secretary Hegseth issues deadline for transgender troops to self-separate from military

Transgender troops in the military are facing a new deadline to self-separate after a recent court order allowed the ban on their service to move forward. According to a memo from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, these service members have between 30 and 60 days to leave the military voluntarily.

Hegseth announced on X that after a Supreme Court victory for @POTUS, the ban on transgender individuals serving in the military is being enforced. Approximately 1,000 service members have identified themselves as having gender dysphoria and will begin the process of voluntary separation, as stated by the Pentagon.

Active duty service members have until June 6 to leave the military, while reservists have until July 7 to comply with the new deadline set by the court ruling. The Pentagon’s chief spokesperson, Sean Parnell, expressed the Secretary’s encouragement for the Supreme Court’s decision and emphasized the importance of military readiness in implementing the new policies.

Service members who have been diagnosed with gender dysphoria or exhibit symptoms consistent with it can choose to separate voluntarily. However, those who do not comply with the deadline may face involuntary removal from the military if necessary.

The recent ruling by the Supreme Court was seen as a victory for the White House, as it allowed the Trump administration’s ban on transgender individuals serving in the military to proceed. The administration argued that delaying the policy could jeopardize military readiness and unit cohesion.

President Trump’s executive order in January directed the Department of Defense to update medical standards to prioritize readiness and lethality, while also ending the use of invented and identification-based pronouns within the DOD. The order stated that expressing a gender identity different from one’s sex at birth does not meet military standards.

The ban on transgender service members was initially lifted in 2014 under President Barack Obama. However, the Trump administration reinstated the ban, citing concerns about military readiness and costs associated with providing transgender treatments to service members.

The transgender ban is part of a broader effort by the Pentagon to eliminate diversity, equity, and inclusion policies. Defense Secretary Hegseth has announced that the majority of DEI-related policies have been removed, and standards for fitness tests have been raised to ensure equality between men and women.

As the military implements the ban on transgender service members, it remains a contentious issue with implications for both national security and individual rights. The new deadline for self-separation underscores the challenges faced by transgender troops in the military and their uncertain future within the armed forces.