29 articles · Updated · The New York Times · Jun 1
A 2-1 federal appeals ruling barred the Trump administration from removing 28 transgender service members while their lawsuit over the military ban moves forward.
The order lets those plaintiffs continue serving in uniform but still allows the administration to block new transgender recruits, narrowing the protection for now.
Judge Robert Wilkins wrote the government showed little evidence that transgender troops harm military operations and said the policy appeared aimed at harming an unpopular group.
The decision applies only to the 28 plaintiffs, though they are seeking to extend it to all transgender troops at a hearing later this month.
The case is the latest fight over Trump’s 2025 ban, which has already forced out thousands of troops and could still head quickly to the Supreme Court.
How will the court’s ruling to reinstate transgender troops affect military operational readiness?
As reports contradict the announced truce, has the Israel-Hezbollah fighting actually de-escalated?
With interest rates topping 4.44% due to the Iran conflict, what is the long-term outlook for American economic stability?
Transgender Military Service in 2025: The "Hegseth Policy," Legal Showdown, and Impact on Service Members
Overview
In March 2025, U.S. District Judge Ana C. Reyes issued a nationwide injunction against the "Hegseth policy," a military ban on transgender service members, finding it likely violated equal protection and was rooted in hostility rather than evidence. Despite this, a later order froze her ruling, allowing the policy to remain in effect as legal battles continue. The policy, justified by claims of military readiness and discipline, was implemented after President Trump’s 2025 executive order and a Pentagon memo asserting only two immutable sexes. This ongoing legal fight highlights the tension between administrative justifications and claims of discrimination.