US military given 30 days to plan transgender troop removals

Robert Besser
04 Mar 2025, 02:41 GMT+10

The U.S. military has 30 days to decide how it will find and remove transgender service members. This may involve troops reporting themselves or being reported by others
A memo sent to the Defense Department orders military branches to identify and remove troops diagnosed with or receiving treatment for gender dysphoria by March 26
The policy is part of a directive from former President Donald Trump to ban transgender people from serving, which has faced legal challenges

WASHINGTON, D.C.: The U.S. military has 30 days to decide how it will find and remove transgender service members. This may involve troops reporting themselves or being reported by others.

A memo sent to the Defense Department orders military branches to identify and remove troops diagnosed with or receiving treatment for gender dysphoria by March 26. The policy is part of a directive from former President Donald Trump to ban transgender people from serving, which has faced legal challenges.

Officials estimate about 4,200 transgender service members are currently on active duty in the National Guard or the Reserves. Between 2015 and 2024, the military spent about $52 million on gender-related medical treatments.

The Pentagon argues that gender dysphoria does not meet military health standards, stating that gender is "unchanging." A 2018 study estimated that around 14,000 transgender troops serve in the military.

The policy allows rare exceptions for those in critical warfighting roles, but they must meet strict conditions. Transgender rights groups say the policy forces troops to reveal their identity, making them vulnerable to discrimination.

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