Defense Secretary Hegseth Sets Deadline for Transgender Military Separation

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has issued a directive giving transgender troops 30 to 60 days to self-separate from the military following a Supreme Court ruling.

In a move that follows a Supreme Court decision allowing the enforcement of a ban on transgender individuals serving in the military, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has mandated that transgender service members must self-separate within 30 to 60 days. The directive, detailed in a memo released on Thursday, comes after the court’s decision to stay a lower court’s injunction that had previously blocked the policy. Hegseth announced the policy shift on social media, stating, “After a SCOTUS victory for @POTUS, TRANS is out at the DOD.”

Approximately 1,000 service members identified as having gender dysphoria are affected by this ruling and are expected to begin the process of voluntary separation. Active duty members have until June 6 to leave the military, while reservists are given until July 7. The Pentagon’s chief spokesperson, Sean Parnell, expressed support for the ruling, noting it allows the Department of Defense to focus on ‘Prioritizing Military Excellence and Readiness.’

The policy, reinstated by the Supreme Court’s action, mandates that service members diagnosed with or exhibiting symptoms of gender dysphoria must choose voluntary separation or face involuntary removal. This decision marks a significant shift from policies implemented under former President Barack Obama, who in 2014 lifted the categorical ban on transgender service members.

The Trump administration, which initiated the ban through an executive order in January, argued that the policy was essential for maintaining military readiness, unit cohesion, and discipline, while also avoiding disproportionate costs. The Department of Defense reported spending approximately $15 million on transgender treatments for 1,892 active-duty service members between January 1, 2016, and May 14, 2021.

This directive is part of a broader initiative by the new Pentagon leadership to eliminate diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies. Last month, Hegseth claimed that “99.9%” of DEI-related policies had been removed from the Defense Department, alongside efforts to standardize fitness tests across genders.