Judge’s order blocking Trump’s transgender troops ban cites ‘Hamilton’ musical
A federal judge appointed by former President Joe Biden recently made headlines by blocking President Donald Trump’s executive order that banned transgender individuals from serving in the U.S. military. U.S. District Judge Ana Reyes, based in Washington, D.C., issued a preliminary injunction that prevented the Pentagon from enforcing Trump’s order, which argued that individuals expressing a gender identity different from their biological sex did not meet the military’s stringent standards.
The executive order, issued on January 27th, instructed the Department of Defense (DOD) to update its medical standards for military service and pronoun policies, stating that adopting a gender identity inconsistent with one’s biological sex conflicted with a soldier’s commitment to an honorable and disciplined lifestyle, both professionally and personally. Judge Reyes expressed concerns that the executive order likely violated constitutional rights and emphasized the importance of respecting and showing gratitude to all individuals who have served in the military.
Transgender individuals were previously considered unfit for military service until the DOD policy changed during former President Barack Obama’s second term. In her ruling, Judge Reyes referenced Lin-Manuel Miranda’s musical “Hamilton” to support her decision to block the ban on transgender troops, highlighting the historical struggle for equal rights and drawing parallels to the fight for transgender rights.
The judge’s 79-page ruling asserted that the plaintiffs faced constitutional rights violations, constituting irreparable harm. She noted the irony that many transgender service members had sacrificed and risked their lives to defend the rights that the Military Ban sought to deny them. Reyes emphasized that avoiding constitutional violations was in the public interest and that maintaining the status quo was necessary pending further litigation.
Following the ruling, White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller condemned Reyes’ decision, questioning the authority of district court judges over the Armed Forces. The Trump administration faced another setback as a third judge temporarily blocked deportation flights, prompting a strong response from Chief Justice John Roberts.
In response to Trump’s executive order, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth issued a policy disqualifying individuals with gender dysphoria from military service, citing concerns about mental and physical standards. Plaintiffs’ attorneys argued that the order violated transgender individuals’ rights to equal protection under the Fifth Amendment, while government lawyers maintained that military officials should have discretion over service member assignments without judicial interference.
Despite acknowledging the weight of her decision to issue an injunction against Trump’s order, Judge Reyes emphasized the importance of upholding equal protection rights and checks and balances among government branches. Thousands of transgender individuals currently serve in the military, representing a small percentage of active-duty service members. The legal battle over transgender military service reflects broader debates about equality and inclusion in the armed forces.
