Judge Halts Trump’s Ban on Transgender Military Service

WASHINGTON (AP) — A federal judge has temporarily blocked President Donald Trump‘s executive order banning transgender individuals from serving in the military. U.S. District Judge Ana Reyes issued the preliminary injunction on March 18, ruling that the order likely violates the constitutional rights of transgender service members.

The court’s decision came in response to a lawsuit from attorneys representing six active-duty transgender personnel and two individuals seeking to join the military. Reyes’ ruling allows these individuals to continue serving while legal appeals are ongoing.

In her decision, Reyes stated that the executive order is “unabashedly demeaning,” adding that the policy stigmatises transgender people as unfit for military service. The judge granted a Friday deadline for the Trump administration to appeal her decision. “The court knows that this opinion will lead to heated public debate and appeals. In a healthy democracy, both are positive outcomes,” Reyes wrote.

Interviewed on social media following the ruling, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth suggested that Judge Reyes should report to military bases to instruct troops on military operations, to which he attributed amusing remarks about her potential responsibilities as a “top military planner.” Hegseth’s comments on X, formerly Twitter, included, “Since ‘Judge’ Reyes is now a top military planner, she/they can report to Fort Benning at 0600 to instruct our Army Rangers on how to execute High Value Target Raids.”

Trump’s executive order, issued on January 27, claims that the expression of a gender identity inconsistent with one’s biological sex is incompatible with the military’s standards for service. It urged the Department of Defense to revise medical standards and policies related to gender identity.

Reyes contends that Trump’s order poses significant constitutional concerns, emphasizing the need for respect and equal treatment for all service members. “Indeed, the cruel irony is that thousands of transgender service members have sacrificed – some risking their lives – to ensure for others the very equal protection rights the military ban seeks to deny them,” she said.

Legal experts anticipate that this ruling may ignite renewed discussions over military policy and LGBTQ+ rights within the armed forces. The plaintiffs are being supported by advocacy groups including the National Center for Lesbian Rights and GLAD Law. They argue that military readiness is not undermined by the service of transgender individuals, who seek only the opportunity to serve their country.

In 2016, a previous policy allowed transgender individuals to serve openly in the military. However, under the Trump administration, the ban was reinstated after the Supreme Court ruled that the policy could take effect while legal challenges were being addressed.

Biden’s administration subsequently revoked the ban upon taking office, reintroducing the previous policy that embraced the inclusion of transgender individuals in military service.

Reyes’ injunction not only pauses the enforcement of the ban but also emphasizes the ongoing struggle for equal rights faced by marginalized groups in the military. The Trump administration has stated it plans to appeal this ruling.

As the legal battle continues, all eyes will be on the courts to determine the future of transgender rights within the military.