In a 6-3 vote, the Supreme Court has upheld the Pentagon’s ability to discharge or deny entry to individuals with “gender dysphoria.”
The Supreme Court has granted the Trump administration permission to enforce its ban on transgender people serving in the military. This decision overturns a previous injunction from a lower court and allows the policy to be implemented while legal challenges continue.
The 6-3 ruling, delivered on May 6, 2025, reinstates President Trump’s executive order entitled “Prioritizing Military Excellence and Readiness.” Issued shortly after Trump’s return to office in January, the order prevents transgender individuals from enlisting and directs the Defense Department to identify and remove service members who have “a current diagnosis or history of, or exhibit symptoms consistent with, gender dysphoria.”
The Supreme Court’s decision nullifies a nationwide injunction previously issued by a federal judge in Washington state in March.
Since returning to office, Trump has revoked numerous executive orders enacted by his predecessor, including a number of initiatives designed to promote the interests of racial minorities and the LGBTQ community.
He also issued an official declaration recognizing only two genders – male and female – which, according to the order, are immutable. Furthermore, Trump eliminated federal funding for what he termed the “chemical and surgical mutilation” of children through puberty blockers, hormones, and other medical procedures related to sex changes for those under 19.
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