The U.S. military is reportedly planning to discharge troops diagnosed with gender dysphoria through medical evaluations.
According to the Associated Press, citing senior defense officials, the White House intends to direct military leaders to identify service members who are transgender or have gender dysphoria. These individuals would then undergo medical assessments, potentially leading to their separation from the military.
This action is part of a broader effort, initiated by President Trump shortly after his inauguration, to exclude transgender individuals from the U.S. military. Trump’s executive order stated that transgender identity “conflicts with a soldier’s commitment to an honorable, truthful, and disciplined lifestyle” and would negatively impact military readiness.
“Gender dysphoria” is defined as the psychological distress resulting from a mismatch between a person’s sex assigned at birth and their gender identity.
Unnamed officials told the AP that commanders who identify service members with current, past, or symptomatic gender dysphoria will be required to initiate individual reviews of their medical records.
This development follows a Supreme Court ruling last week that allows the White House to enforce its ban on transgender people serving in the military while legal challenges continue.
Earlier this month, the Pentagon issued a directive to immediately remove approximately 1,000 openly transgender service members, giving them until June 6 to either voluntarily resign or face discharge. The department also stated that those who come forward would receive roughly double the standard separation pay.
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