In an effort to implement recent changes to military policy, the U.S. military services were actively working on Friday to finalize procedures and develop new guidelines for the removal of transgender service members from their ranks. This move follows an order from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who reinforced previous directives stating that expressing a gender identity differing from one’s biological sex is incompatible with military service standards.
The memo issued by Hegseth gives active duty personnel a deadline until June 6 to declare their transgender status and begin the voluntary process of leaving. National Guard and Reserve troops have until July 7. Army Major Alivia Stehlik, a transgender service member, expressed her reluctance to leave, emphasizing her commitment to fulfilling her military duties. She highlighted her unique role within her unit, underscoring the potential impact of her departure.
Military leaders are currently tasked with creating new instructions to guide commanders in managing the transitions of transgender troops, including tackling complex scenarios involving deployed personnel or those requiring specific authorizations to meet the stipulated deadlines.
The conversation around transgender military service members became prominent in 2015 when former Defense Secretary Ash Carter proposed eradicating the ban. By June 2016, this led to the lifting of the restriction. President Donald Trump, however, has consistently sought to reinstate it, introducing a ban shortly after taking office, which sparked legal battles spanning nearly two years.
Despite court interventions, the Pentagon crafted a policy allowing current transgender members to continue service with conditions but prohibited new enlistments with gender dysphoria, defined by a sense of disparity between assigned sex at birth and gender identity. Under President Joe Biden, this policy was overturned, but President Trump has again sought its reinstatement, leading to renewed directives from Hegseth.
To date, approximately 1,000 service members have self-identified as transgender, initiating their exit from military service. Although subject to change, early estimates suggest that about 500 of these are from the Army, with others from the Navy and Marine Corps. Approximately 4,240 members have been diagnosed with gender dysphoria, and numerous have received treatment since 2015.
Uncertainty surrounds the exact number of impacted personnel, with previous estimates ranging from 9,000 to 12,000. These numbers encompass individuals at varied stages of transition, from those undiagnosed to those currently undergoing or completed transitions.
The newly structured processes include provisions where voluntarily identified transgender service members could receive certain separation benefits. Conversely, post-June 6, the military intends to scrutinize medical records to locate and discharge additional transgender troops, potentially disqualifying them from certain benefits.
Despite the challenges these policies pose, transgender service members like Stehlik emphasize their ongoing contributions and readiness to serve. Advocates and military leaders argue against the removal of these troops, citing their effective service across diverse military roles and the detrimental effects on unit cohesion.
For many, this policy shift stands as a significant threat to their careers and the benefits they’ve worked towards, including pensions and health coverage. Examining the past nine years, there’s little evidence suggesting that the inclusion of transgender troops has caused unit cohesion issues, dispelling previous fears. Critics of the ban argue that the dismissal of such experienced personnel could adversely affect the military’s operational readiness.