The United States military will begin the process of removing approximately 1,000 transgender service members who do not voluntarily separate by early June, the Pentagon announced on Thursday. The directive follows President Donald Trump’s executive order banning transgender individuals from serving in the military, which received a green light from the U.S. Supreme Court earlier this week.
According to a memo issued by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, the military branches are to “immediately begin processing for separation service members who previously self-identified for voluntary separation prior to March 26, 2025.” Those who remain in service past the deadlines—June 6 for active-duty troops and June 7 for reserves—will face involuntary discharge.
Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell confirmed that around 1,000 of the roughly 4,240 troops diagnosed with gender dysphoria had previously indicated a willingness to leave. The rest will now be subject to dismissal unless granted an individual waiver.
The controversial move stems from Trump’s January 27 executive order, which declared that a “false ‘gender identity’ divergent from an individual’s sex” disqualifies individuals from meeting the military’s performance standards. A follow-up Pentagon memo in February outlined the plan to enforce the ban and prevent new transgender recruits from joining unless a waiver is granted on a case-by-case basis.
The policy marks a significant shift in the Pentagon’s approach under Trump, reversing previous efforts by Democratic administrations to allow transgender individuals to serve openly. Critics have condemned the decision as discriminatory and harmful to military readiness, while supporters argue it upholds standards of service.
Legal challenges to the ban are ongoing, but with the Supreme Court permitting its implementation during litigation, the Defense Department is moving forward with the separation process. Transgender service members and advocates have expressed deep concern over the future of LGBTQ+ rights within the military.
