Ana Reyes on Wednesday ordered both sides to explain how the Pentagon’s new testosterone replacement policy differs medically and logistically from hormone treatment for transgender men.
The judge pointed to the ban’s claim that troops must meet health standards without routine medical treatment or special provisions, and asked what basis the Pentagon has for treating trans men differently.
Pete Hegseth announced the screening program a week ago, with annual testosterone checks for service members 30 and older and voluntary testing for younger troops; treatment would be optional.
The questions land in a class-action challenge to Donald Trump’s transgender troop ban, which Reyes previously ruled against but which the Supreme Court has allowed the Pentagon to enforce while litigation continues.
What are the long-term health risks of the military’s new, widespread testosterone therapy policy?
How might the military's conflicting hormone policies redefine medical fitness standards for all service members?
Contradictory Hormone Policies in the Military: Judge Reyes’ Order Puts Pentagon’s Transgender Ban on Trial
Overview
U.S. District Judge Ana C. Reyes has challenged the Pentagon’s policy of offering testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) to cisgender troops while maintaining a ban on transgender individuals serving in the military. This contradiction is at the heart of ongoing legal scrutiny, as the Pentagon treats testosterone as a benefit for some but a disqualifier for others. The issue is further complicated by the Supreme Court allowing the ban to remain during litigation, highlighting the inconsistency in the military’s medical and personnel policies. Judge Reyes’s order forces a critical review of these conflicting justifications and their impact on service members.