Supreme Court lets Trump Administration enforce ban on Transgender Troops

On Tuesday, the U.S. Supreme Court said the Trump administration can begin enforcing a ban on transgender people serving in the military. The court’s decision is a big win for former President Donald Trump, even though the issue is still being argued in lower courts, according to CNN News. The justices did not explain why they allowed the ban to go into effect. The three liberal judges disagreed with the decision but did not say why. This kind of quick ruling is common in emergency situations. Under the policy, people with a history or diagnosis of gender dysphoria—emotional distress related

On Tuesday, the U.S. Supreme Court said the Trump administration can begin enforcing a ban on transgender people serving in the military. The court’s decision is a big win for former President Donald Trump, even though the issue is still being argued in lower courts, according to CNN News. The justices did not explain why they allowed the ban to go into effect. The three liberal judges disagreed with the decision but did not say why. This kind of quick ruling is common in emergency situations. Under the policy, people with a history or diagnosis of gender dysphoria—emotional distress related to gender identity will be removed from service. Also, transgender people will not be allowed to join the military. A memo from the Pentagon said the policy is meant to protect "military readiness and unit cohesion." A government lawyer, Solicitor General D. John Sauer, defended the ban. He said, “The district court’s injunction cannot be squared with the substantial deference that the Department’s professional military judgments are owed.” He added that without the Supreme Court's help, the military would be forced to follow a policy “contrary to military readiness and the Nation’s interests.” But many disagree. In 2018, an independent study estimated that about 14,000 transgender troops were serving. A Pentagon official also said there were over 4,000 service members diagnosed with gender dysphoria, but noted not all transgender people have that condition. Lawyers for the transgender service members warned the ban would immediately hurt many people. “The loss of well-qualified servicemembers… will necessarily negatively impact military readiness, lethality, and unit cohesion,” they told the court. One judge, U.S. District Judge Benjamin Settle, previously blocked the policy. He said the Trump administration “fails to contend with the reality that transgender service members have served openly for at least four years… without any discernable harm to military readiness, cohesion, order, or discipline.” President Joe Biden had reversed a similar Trump-era policy when he took office. His administration allowed transgender individuals to serve openly. But the new decision now makes it possible again for the military to remove transgender troops. Another federal court is still deciding if it will stop the ban temporarily. That case is being reviewed by the U.S. DC Circuit Court of Appeals.