After President Donald Trump signed an executive order outlawing "transgender ideology" and "invented pronouns" in the troops as part of his first round of broad measures after returning to the White House, the US Army formally declared that transgender people would no longer be permitted to enlist in the military.

The US Army announced on social media site X that it will no longer perform or facilitate gender transition treatments for service members and will no longer permit transgender people to enlist in the military. In addition, the Army stated that gender-affirming care would be put on hold indefinitely, but that those with gender dysphoria would receive respect and dignity for their willingness to serve America.

The executive order, signed on January 27, 2025, mandates the Department of Defense to exclude individuals who identify with a gender different from their biological sex from military service. It emphasizes concerns over unit cohesion, mental and physical readiness, and overall military effectiveness. Additionally, the order disallows the use of pronouns that do not correspond with an individual's biological sex and requires service members to use facilities matching their biological sex.

In compliance with this directive, Secretary Hegseth issued a memorandum on February 7, 2025, instructing all military branches to pause the acceptance of new recruits with a history of gender dysphoria and suspend all medical procedures associated with gender transition for current service members.

This policy change has sparked considerable debate. Advocacy groups, including the Human Rights Campaign Foundation and Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund, have filed lawsuits challenging the constitutionality of the ban. They argue that such measures discriminate against transgender individuals and compromise the inclusivity and diversity that strengthen the armed forces

Transgender service members currently serving face uncertainty regarding their future in the military. While the memo indicates that existing personnel will be treated with dignity and respect, the suspension of medical procedures related to gender transition raises concerns about their well-being and ability to serve authentically.

As legal challenges proceed and debates continue, the long-term implications of this policy shift remain to be seen, both for the U.S. military and the transgender community.