Up to 1,000 transgender troops are being moved out of the military in new Pentagon order
NBC1 day
Pentagon Begins Removal of Transgender Service Members
Above: Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth listens as President Donald Trump speaks during a rally at Macomb Community College on April 29, 2025. Image copyright: Scott Olson/Staff/Getty Images News via Getty Images
The Spin
Republican narrative
The Trump administration’s decision to remove transgender people from the military is not about discrimination. It is about preserving America’s warfighting ability and military efficiency. The medical, surgical, and mental health constraints associated with gender dysphoria are incompatible with the high standards necessary for military service. This policy ensures no such distractions, allowing the Pentagon to focus on its primary duties.
Democratic narrative
The Trump administration’s transgender ban is fundamentally unjust and un-American. Rather than strengthening the military, it deliberately neglects the important martial contributions transgender service members have made and actively deepens the ongoing recruitment crisis by marginalizing an entire community out of sheer prejudice. In light of this, the Supreme Court’s decision to uphold this ban is utterly shameful.