Overview

• U.S. District Judge Christine O’Hearn issued a temporary restraining order protecting two transgender Air Force members from separation under the Trump administration's military ban.
• This follows a nationwide preliminary injunction issued by Judge Ana Reyes on March 18, citing constitutional equal protection violations.
• The Trump administration plans to appeal both rulings, with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth publicly defending the ban and criticizing the judges involved.
• The Pentagon's policy mandates transgender troops serve in alignment with their birth sex and denies coverage for gender-affirming medical care, despite studies showing no adverse impact on military readiness.
• Broader legal challenges to the ban highlight its potential harm to thousands of transgender service members and its role in the administration's wider effort to restrict transgender rights.