Overview

• The U.S. Army announced it will no longer allow transgender individuals to join and will suspend all gender-affirming medical procedures for service members.
• The decision stems from a January 27 executive order by President Trump, which argues that transgender identity conflicts with military standards and readiness.
• Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth issued a memo enforcing the policy, including pausing new accessions for individuals with gender dysphoria and requiring housing based on sex assigned at birth.
• The move has sparked legal challenges, with lawsuits citing violations of equal protection rights and potential harm to transgender service members' careers and health care access.
• Critics, including Democratic lawmakers and advocacy groups, argue the policy undermines military effectiveness and contradicts studies showing no negative impact from transgender service members.