The Supreme Court permitted the Trump administration to immediately enforce a ban on transgender individuals serving in the military. This decision, without explanation from the majority, was met with public dissent from the three liberal justices.
A similar, though less restrictive, ban was previously enforced under the Trump administration and later overturned by President Biden. The new ban will process for separation service members diagnosed with gender dysphoria, and prevent transgender individuals from joining the military.
The exact number of transgender service members is unclear, with estimates ranging from 4,240 (those diagnosed with gender dysphoria) to 14,000 (a 2018 estimate). The ban’s challengers warned of significant negative impacts on military readiness and lethality due to the loss of qualified personnel.
Lower courts had previously blocked the ban, arguing it violated constitutional rights and lacked evidence of harm to military readiness. The administration countered that lower courts overstepped by interfering in military policy, and asserted that the ban was in the national interest.
Another case challenging the ban is pending before a US appeals court, highlighting the ongoing legal fight surrounding the policy.