On May 12, 2025, the U.S. Department of Defense issued a directive suspending all gender-affirming medical care for transgender service members, including hormone therapy and surgical procedures. The move follows Executive Order 14183, signed by President Donald Trump in January 2025, which seeks to bar individuals who identify with a gender different from their biological sex from serving in the military.
Acting Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs, Stephen Ferrara, mandated the immediate implementation of the policy. The directive comes just days after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in favor of allowing the administration to enforce the new restrictions, rejecting legal challenges that aimed to block the measure.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has instructed military branches to begin discharge proceedings for transgender personnel who do not comply with the new regulations by June 6. This decision reverses the previous policy established by President Joe Biden, which allowed transgender individuals to serve openly and receive full medical support.
The Pentagon’s announcement sparked swift backlash from advocacy organizations and civil rights groups, who called the measure discriminatory and medically harmful. According to a recent Gallup poll, public support for transgender individuals in the military has dropped from 71% in 2019 to 58% in 2025, reflecting a broader political and cultural shift.
The ban has raised serious concerns about the future of inclusivity within the U.S. Armed Forces, with critics warning it could undermine morale and retention. Legal experts anticipate further court battles in the weeks to come.
