WASHINGTON — The United States Department of Defense submitted details of its revised policy concerning transgender individuals serving in the military through court documents on Wednesday. According to the policy, service members or recruits diagnosed or treated for gender dysphoria are generally barred from serving in the military unless they fulfill specific operational requirements and conform to strict behavioral conditions.
This policy is part of a lawsuit challenging an executive order signed by former President Donald Trump that sought to prohibit transgender individuals from military service. This directive was one of multiple high-priority subjects addressed by Trump upon entering office. The policy insinuates that the combat effectiveness and moral integrity of the military force are incompatible with the issues faced by transitioning transgender members and maintains that gender is “immutable and unvarying throughout a person’s life.”
Notably, the policy allows for two exceptions: one for prospective transgender enlistees who can demonstrate that they are indispensable for combat operations, and another for current service members diagnosed with gender dysphoria who can prove they are necessary for a specific military function. These individuals are also required to maintain stability in their birth-assigned gender without initiating transition for at least 36 months, avoiding significant psychological distress.
Even if a waiver permits a transgender individual to serve, the policy would continue to recognize only their biological sex in terms of using facilities, living arrangements, and formal address, necessitating participation in all military settings in alignment with their biological sex.
Gender dysphoria is defined as a situation where a person’s assigned sex at birth does not align with their internal sense of gender identity. Despite transgender persons making up a minor fraction of the overall military personnel, the topic has commanded substantial attention from both the Pentagon and the White House. While exact figures of transgender service members are not disclosed due to medical privacy policies, an independent study from the Palm Center in 2018 estimated the presence of approximately 14,000 transgender troops among the over two million members of the armed forces.
This policy was initially advanced by Trump during his first presidential term but faced extensive legal challenges. The military policy concerning transgender service members shifted when President Joe Biden assumed office and repealed the ban.
