Pentagon Orders Trans Troops Be Removed From The Military
In a new policy memo, the Pentagon requires transgender U.S. service members be separated from the military.
Transgender service members will be removed from the military unless they receive a waiver, according to a new Pentagon policy memo filed in court on Wednesday.
The memo states that the Pentagon must create a procedure to identify transgender troops by March 26 and must complete the separation of these troops from the military by June 25.
“Military service by Service members and applicants for military service who have a current diagnosis or history of, or exhibit symptoms consistent with, gender dysphoria is incompatible with military service,” the memo stated.
“Service by these individuals is not in the best interests of the Military Services and is not clearly consistent with the interests of national security,” it added.
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The service members removed from the military will receive honorable discharges “except where the Service member’s record otherwise warrants a lower characterization.” An honorable discharge would secure transgender troops’ rights to veteran benefits including VA healthcare.
Exceptions will be given on a case-by-case basis if there is “compelling Government interest” in maintaining a service member’s “warfighting capabilities.” These waivers will only be granted if the service member can show evidence of 36 months of stability in their sex assigned at birth without distress or impairment. They also must demonstrate that they have never attempted to medically transition and must be willing to adhere to the “military standards” for their sex at birth.
“The Department only recognizes two sexes: male and female. An individual’s sex is immutable, unchanging during a person’s life. All service members will only serve in accordance with their sex,” states the memo, signed by Darin Selnick, the advisor to the Secretary of Defense.
The order was filed in response to a lawsuit brought forth by LGBTQ rights groups against President Trump’s executive order banning trans people from serving in the military. It was filed in the case to add clarity on how the proposed Trump policy would be implemented.
