Pentagon stopping gender transition treatment for transgender troops
The Pentagon has recently made a decision to discontinue gender transition treatment for transgender troops, following President Donald Trump’s plan to remove transgender individuals from the U.S. military. This new directive, outlined in a memo, prohibits the initiation of any new hormone treatments or surgical procedures for transgender service members.
Acting Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs, Stephen Ferrara, instructed all relevant parties to immediately implement this guidance. This move has sparked outrage among transgender troops, with one individual describing it as a “slap in the face” to those who have served honorably.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has been vocal in his opposition to gender transition treatment for transgender troops, expressing his disapproval of taxpayers funding such procedures. Since taking on his role as Pentagon chief, Hegseth has actively supported efforts to eliminate diversity initiatives, particularly those pertaining to transgender individuals.
The U.S. Supreme Court recently gave the green light for the Trump administration to enforce its ban on transgender troops in the military. This decision allows the Defense Department to discharge thousands of current transgender service members and reject new recruits, while legal challenges against the ban continue to unfold in court.
A memo released last week revealed that Hegseth set a deadline for transgender troops to voluntarily leave the military by June 6. This directive follows an executive order signed by Trump in January, which overturned a policy implemented by the Biden administration allowing transgender individuals to serve openly.
According to officials, there are approximately 4,240 active-duty and National Guard transgender troops in the U.S. military. However, some advocates for transgender rights believe that this number may be higher than reported.
As the debate surrounding transgender individuals in the military continues to unfold, it is clear that this issue remains a contentious and divisive topic within the armed forces.
