Current Version
| Region | United States |
| Issue | Serving openly in military |
| Status | Lesbians, gays, bisexuals permitted, transgender people banned |
| Start Date | May 8, 2025 |
| End Date | Jun 7, 2025 |
| Description | On May 8, 2025, the United States Department of Defense (USDoD) began initiating administrative separation proceedings for service members who had already identified themselves for voluntary separation before March 26, 2025. On the same date, it reinstated the ban on transgender enlistment by directing that applicants who have a current diagnosis or history of, or exhibit symptoms consistent with, gender dysphoria and do not receive a waiver, or who have a history of cross-sex hormone therapy or sex reassignment or genital reconstruction surgery in connection with a sex transition, are denied entry into military service. On May 9, 2025, the USDoD ended all surgical procedures related to sex reassignment for service members with gender dysphoria. All such procedures—whether planned, scheduled, or not yet scheduled—were canceled, and any previously approved SHCP waivers for these surgeries were revoked. New waiver requests are no longer processed, except in cases involving the necessary treatment of surgical complications, which require special review. Service members aged 19 or older who were already receiving cross-sex hormone therapy prior to this memorandum may continue treatment temporarily if a provider deems it necessary to prevent harm, but only until their separation is completed. Moving forward, USDoD funding cannot be used to initiate any new hormone therapy treatments for gender dysphoria, though military department leaders may request case-by-case exceptions for non-surgical care if needed to protect a service member’s health, subject to review and approval. Also on May 9, 2025, the USDoD directed military educational institution libraries to use a standardized set of subject-heading searches to identify post-2010 books potentially associated with “gender ideology,” transgender-related topics, and other targeted concepts, sequester those materials from normal access by May 21, 2025, and hold them for expert review and possible later disposition. On May 15, 2025, the United States Coast Guard resumed implementation of its transgender service policy by immediately pausing new accessions for individuals with a history of gender dysphoria and pausing planned, scheduled, or unscheduled medical procedures related to gender transition. By May 21, 2025, the US Naval Academy had returned all but about 20 of the 381 books removed on March 31–April 1, 2025, to its shelves, while US Air Force libraries, including the US Air Force Academy, had also pulled a few dozen books for review. On June 5, 2025, the U.S. Coast Guard formally made members and applicants with gender dysphoria who did not receive a waiver ineligible for service and subject to separation or disqualification, while allowing temporary continuation of some preexisting hormone therapy until separation. On June 6, 2025, US Coast Guard restored the Civil Rights Awards Program after completing a review and updating the Civil Rights Manual. |
| Sources | https://media.defense.gov/2025/May/08/2003706668/-1/-1/1/IMPLEMENTING-POLICY-ON-PRIORITIZING-MILITARY-EXCELLENCE-AND-READINESS.PDF https://health.mil/Reference-Center/Policies/2025/05/09/Additional-Guidance-on-Treatment-of-Gender-Dysphoria https://media.defense.gov/2025/May/15/2003715662/-1/-1/0/PRIORITIZING-MILITARY-EXCELLENCE-AND-READINESS-IMPLEMENTATION-GUIDANCE.PDF https://media.defense.gov/2025/Apr/04/2003683009/-1/-1/0/250404-LIST%20OF%20REMOVED%20BOOKS%20FROM%20NIMITZ%20LIBRARY.PDF https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/USDHSCG/bulletins/3e08ec9 https://apnews.com/article/military-libraries-dei-book-purge-d6df4f5c82d92763f2060d7f4b99cd95 https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/USDHSCG/bulletins/3e3ca24 https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/USDHSCG/bulletins/3e3ed48 |
| Federal Law | Yes |
Revision History (7)
| Old Value | New Value | |
|---|---|---|
| Description | Midday on May 6th, 2025, the Supreme Court issued an order allowing the Trump administration to enforce its ban on transgender service members while the court reviews their case. | On May 8, 2025, the United States Department of Defense (USDoD) began initiating administrative separation proceedings for service members who had already identified themselves for voluntary separation before March 26, 2025. On the same date, it reinstated the ban on transgender enlistment by directing that applicants who have a current diagnosis or history of, or exhibit symptoms consistent with, gender dysphoria and do not receive a waiver, or who have a history of cross-sex hormone therapy or sex reassignment or genital reconstruction surgery in connection with a sex transition, are denied entry into military service. On May 9, 2025, the USDoD ended all surgical procedures related to sex reassignment for service members with gender dysphoria. All such procedures—whether planned, scheduled, or not yet scheduled—were canceled, and any previously approved SHCP waivers for these surgeries were revoked. New waiver requests are no longer processed, except in cases involving the necessary treatment of surgical complications, which require special review. Service members aged 19 or older who were already receiving cross-sex hormone therapy prior to this memorandum may continue treatment temporarily if a provider deems it necessary to prevent harm, but only until their separation is completed. Moving forward, USDoD funding cannot be used to initiate any new hormone therapy treatments for gender dysphoria, though military department leaders may request case-by-case exceptions for non-surgical care if needed to protect a service member’s health, subject to review and approval. Also on May 9, 2025, the USDoD directed military educational institution libraries to use a standardized set of subject-heading searches to identify post-2010 books potentially associated with “gender ideology,” transgender-related topics, and other targeted concepts, sequester those materials from normal access by May 21, 2025, and hold them for expert review and possible later disposition. On May 15, 2025, the United States Coast Guard resumed implementation of its transgender service policy by immediately pausing new accessions for individuals with a history of gender dysphoria and pausing planned, scheduled, or unscheduled medical procedures related to gender transition. By May 21, 2025, the US Naval Academy had returned all but about 20 of the 381 books removed on March 31–April 1, 2025, to its shelves, while US Air Force libraries, including the US Air Force Academy, had also pulled a few dozen books for review. On June 5, 2025, the U.S. Coast Guard formally made members and applicants with gender dysphoria who did not receive a waiver ineligible for service and subject to separation or disqualification, while allowing temporary continuation of some preexisting hormone therapy until separation. On June 6, 2025, US Coast Guard restored the Civil Rights Awards Program after completing a review and updating the Civil Rights Manual. |
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| Sources | https://thehill.com/regulation/court-battles/5285674-transgender-military-ban-supreme/ https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/may/06/trump-trans-military-ban-court https://www.supremecourt.gov/docket/docketfiles/html/public/24a1030.html https://www.nbcnews.com/news/amp/rcna204135 https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/trump-trans-ban-military-court-ruling-b2745953.html https://www.npr.org/2025/05/06/nx-s1-5388507/supreme-court-transgender-military https://www.reuters.com/world/us/us-supreme-court-lets-trumps-transgender-military-ban-take-effect-2025-05-06/ | https://media.defense.gov/2025/May/08/2003706668/-1/-1/1/IMPLEMENTING-POLICY-ON-PRIORITIZING-MILITARY-EXCELLENCE-AND-READINESS.PDF https://health.mil/Reference-Center/Policies/2025/05/09/Additional-Guidance-on-Treatment-of-Gender-Dysphoria https://media.defense.gov/2025/May/15/2003715662/-1/-1/0/PRIORITIZING-MILITARY-EXCELLENCE-AND-READINESS-IMPLEMENTATION-GUIDANCE.PDF https://media.defense.gov/2025/Apr/04/2003683009/-1/-1/0/250404-LIST%20OF%20REMOVED%20BOOKS%20FROM%20NIMITZ%20LIBRARY.PDF https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/USDHSCG/bulletins/3e08ec9 https://apnews.com/article/military-libraries-dei-book-purge-d6df4f5c82d92763f2060d7f4b99cd95 https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/USDHSCG/bulletins/3e3ca24 https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/USDHSCG/bulletins/3e3ed48 |
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| Old Value | New Value | |
|---|---|---|
| Start Date | May 6, 2025 | May 8, 2025 |
| End Date | (none) | Jun 7, 2025 |
edited by jadeywadey. even more sources
Helpful?
3 | Old Value | New Value | |
|---|---|---|
| Sources | https://thehill.com/regulation/court-battles/5285674-transgender-military-ban-supreme/ https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/may/06/trump-trans-military-ban-court https://www.supremecourt.gov/docket/docketfiles/html/public/24a1030.html | https://thehill.com/regulation/court-battles/5285674-transgender-military-ban-supreme/ https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/may/06/trump-trans-military-ban-court https://www.supremecourt.gov/docket/docketfiles/html/public/24a1030.html https://www.nbcnews.com/news/amp/rcna204135 https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/trump-trans-ban-military-court-ruling-b2745953.html https://www.npr.org/2025/05/06/nx-s1-5388507/supreme-court-transgender-military https://www.reuters.com/world/us/us-supreme-court-lets-trumps-transgender-military-ban-take-effect-2025-05-06/ |
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edited by jadeywadey. adding a source
Helpful?
3 | Old Value | New Value | |
|---|---|---|
| Sources | https://thehill.com/regulation/court-battles/5285674-transgender-military-ban-supreme/ https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/may/06/trump-trans-military-ban-court | https://thehill.com/regulation/court-battles/5285674-transgender-military-ban-supreme/ https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/may/06/trump-trans-military-ban-court https://www.supremecourt.gov/docket/docketfiles/html/public/24a1030.html |
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edited by jadeywadey. adding a source
Helpful?
3 | Old Value (Original) | New Value | |
|---|---|---|
| Sources | https://thehill.com/regulation/court-battles/5285674-transgender-military-ban-supreme/ | https://thehill.com/regulation/court-battles/5285674-transgender-military-ban-supreme/ https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/may/06/trump-trans-military-ban-court |
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created by jadeywadey
Helpful?
3 | Original entry | |
|---|---|
| Status | Lesbians, gays, bisexuals permitted, transgender people banned |
| Federal Law | Yes |
| Start Date | May 6, 2025 |
| End Date | (none) |
| Description | Midday on May 6th, 2025, the Supreme Court issued an order allowing the Trump administration to enforce its ban on transgender service members while the court reviews their case. |
| Sources | https://thehill.com/regulation/court-battles/5285674-transgender-military-ban-supreme/ |