WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Pentagon has issued a directive mandating the removal of approximately 1,000 military personnel who have openly identified as transgender, and has given others 30 days to self-identify or risk involuntary discharge.
The policy shift follows a Supreme Court ruling on Tuesday that cleared the way for the Trump administration to enforce a long-contested ban on transgender service members. The Department of Defence confirmed Thursday it will now begin reviewing medical records to identify other service members diagnosed with gender dysphoria who have not yet come forward.
As of December 9, 2024, there were 4,240 active-duty, National Guard, and reserve troops diagnosed with gender dysphoria, according to Pentagon figures. That number represents a small fraction of the U.S. military’s 2 million members, though officials acknowledge the actual figure may be higher.
Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell stated that the 1,000 troops who have self-identified since an earlier memo in February will now enter the “voluntary separation process.” That memo was previously put on hold due to ongoing legal challenges.
Rae Timberlake, a 17-year Navy veteran and spokesperson for the advocacy group Sparta Pride, is among those facing discharge. Timberlake warned that those who delay separation could lose hard-earned benefits.
“There’s no guarantee to access your pension or severance or an honourable discharge,” Timberlake said, describing the current process as “not voluntary,” but rather one made under “duress.”
“These are 1,000 transgender troops that would be serving if the conditions were not created to force them into deciding for their wellbeing, or the wellbeing of their family long-term,” Timberlake added.
The Pentagon’s move aligns with broader policy trends under the Trump administration, which has rolled back multiple protections for LGBTQ+ military members and veterans. After Trump’s inauguration, the Department of Veterans Affairs began rescinding policies, including VA Directive 1341, which had supported healthcare access for transgender veterans, including treatment for gender dysphoria.
The announcement comes amid an ongoing military recruitment crisis and concerns that such policies could further discourage enlistment. Critics have also pointed to Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, who has previously expressed opposition to women in combat and other forms of diversity in the military.
On Thursday, Hegseth posted on social media, reaffirming the administration’s stance: “We are leaving WOKENESS AND WEAKNESS behind. No more pronouns,” he wrote. “We are done with that sh*t.”
The administration’s hardline posture has reignited fierce debate over the role of inclusivity and civil rights in America’s armed forces, even as the military grapples with challenges in morale, retention, and recruitment.
