A federal judge has blocked Donald Trump’s ban on transgender people serving in the US military, calling it unconstitutional.
A federal judge recently blocked former President Trump’s order banning transgender individuals from serving in the U.S. military.
This decision came shortly after Trump returned to the Oval Office in January 2025.
The ruling is significant for many who support equal rights in the armed forces.
Trump’s military ban aimed to exclude transgender individuals.
Donald Trump’s policy, known as “Prioritizing Military Excellence and Readiness,” claimed that allowing transgender people to serve would weaken the military.
The order suggested that accommodating different gender identities would conflict with the military’s commitment to discipline and honor.
Trump argued that a soldier’s identity must align with their biological sex.
In the policy, Trump stated, “A man’s assertion that he is a woman, and his requirement that others honor this falsehood, is not consistent with the humility and selflessness required of a service member.”
This statement reflects the views that many found discriminatory and harmful.
Judge halts Trump’s policy banning transgender individuals from serving in the US military
The judge presiding over the case, Ana Reyes, ruled that Trump’s ban violated the equal protection clause of the Constitution.
This clause protects individuals from being discriminated against based on their gender identity or sex.
Reyes described the language used in the ban as “unabashedly demeaning” and noted that it stigmatized transgender individuals as unfit for military service.
“Its language is unabashedly demeaning, its policy stigmatizes transgender persons as inherently unfit, and its conclusions bear no relation to fact.
In her ruling, Reyes emphasized that many transgender service members have already made significant sacrifices for their country.
She pointed out that these individuals deserve the same rights and protections as all service members.
“Indeed, the cruel irony is that thousands of transgender servicemembers have sacrificed — some risking their lives — to ensure for others the very equal protection rights the Military Ban seeks to deny them.”
“The Military Ban, however, is not that policy,” she continued. “The Court therefore must act to uphold the equal protection rights that the military defends every day.”
Response from LGBTQ organizations
The ruling came after two LGBTQ legal organizations filed a lawsuit in response to Trump’s order.
GLBTQ Legal Advocates & Defenders and the National Center for Lesbian Rights represented six active-duty transgender service members and two applicants.
They argued that the ban was driven by animosity towards transgender people.
The lawsuit stated that the policy did not reflect the realities of military service and undermined the contributions of transgender individuals.
This legal action was crucial in challenging the ban and protecting the rights of those who serve.
Following the judge’s decision, the Trump administration has the option to appeal. However, Reyes delayed the implementation of her ruling until March 21, 2025.
This pause gives the administration time to consider its next steps regarding the ban on transgender service members.
The possibility of an appeal raises questions about the future of policies affecting LGBTQ rights in the military.
Many advocates hope that this ruling will lead to more inclusive practices and support for all service members, regardless of their gender identity.