President Trump’s military commanders are now actively identifying and evaluating service members with gender dysphoria for potential removal from all branches of the armed forces, implementing a Supreme Court-backed executive order that offers increased separation pay for those who voluntarily disclose their condition.
Key Takeaways
- Military commanders must now identify service members with gender dysphoria and direct them to medical assessments that could lead to discharge.
- This directive implements President Trump’s January 27 executive order banning transgender servicemembers, which the Supreme Court has upheld.
- Service members who voluntarily come forward by June 6 (July 7 for National Guard and Reserves) will receive double the separation pay compared to those who are reported.
- Approximately 4,240 soldiers diagnosed with gender dysphoria currently serve in the military, with about 1,000 having come forward so far.
- Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has emphasized this policy as part of broader efforts to eliminate “wokeness” and restore traditional military values.
New Military Guidelines Target Gender Dysphoria
The Department of Defense has implemented new guidelines requiring military commanders across all branches to identify service members exhibiting symptoms of gender dysphoria. Following President Trump’s executive order signed on January 27, these identified individuals must undergo comprehensive medical evaluations that could ultimately result in their removal from military service. The policy applies universally across active-duty personnel, reservists, and National Guard members, establishing a clear timeline for implementation with significant financial implications for those affected.
According to Defense Department data, approximately 4,240 service members have been diagnosed with gender dysphoria as of December 2024. The implementation strategy offers incentives for voluntary disclosure, with service members who come forward by June 6 (or July 7 for National Guard and Reserve personnel) eligible to receive double the standard separation pay compared to those who are identified through other means. This approach appears designed to facilitate a more efficient transition while providing some financial compensation to affected personnel.
🚨🇺🇸PENTAGON ORDERS TRANSGENDER SERVICE MEMBERS IDENTIFIED & SEPARATED
A newly released DoD memo directs the U.S. military to identify all service members with gender dysphoria or those who have transitioned within 30 days.
Unless granted a waiver, they will be medically… pic.twitter.com/6B7EwKx8qX
— Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) February 27, 2025
Supreme Court Support and Policy Justification
The policy implementation moves forward with the backing of the Supreme Court, which upheld President Trump’s executive order banning transgender service members. The Department of Defense is utilizing existing mechanisms, including annual health assessments, to identify individuals with gender dysphoria. This systematic approach demonstrates the administration’s commitment to fully implementing the policy across all military branches, with clear protocols for medical evaluation and potential separation of affected personnel.
Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has been particularly vocal about the rationale behind this policy shift, framing it as part of a broader effort to combat what he describes as “wokeness” and “weakness” in the military. The administration views this action as restoring traditional military values and operational effectiveness that they believe were compromised under previous leadership. The policy represents a significant reversal of approaches implemented during the Biden administration, which had expanded opportunities for transgender individuals to serve in the military.
Broader Military Cultural Reset
This directive on gender dysphoria represents just one component of President Trump’s larger initiative to reshape military culture and priorities. The administration has characterized these changes as necessary corrections to policies they believe undermined military readiness and effectiveness. By targeting not only transgender service policies but also broader Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives, the Trump administration is signaling a fundamental shift in how military personnel policies are approached and implemented.
Critics of the previous administration’s policies have suggested that they prioritized social experimentation over combat readiness and military effectiveness. The current implementation approach, with its clear timelines, identification procedures, and compensation structures, indicates a methodical dismantling of these earlier policies. For the approximately 1,000 service members who have already come forward under the voluntary disclosure provision, the process of transition out of military service has already begun, marking a tangible shift in the demographic composition of America’s armed forces.
