Pentagon Imposes 30-Day Deadline for Discharge of Transgender Troops from US Military
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Synopsis
The Pentagon has set a 30-day deadline for the identification and discharge of service members with gender dysphoria, following President Trump's executive order. This policy has raised significant legal and ethical concerns regarding the treatment of transgender individuals in the military.
Key Takeaways
- The Pentagon mandates discharge of service members with gender dysphoria.
- A 30-day process is initiated for identification.
- Legal challenges against the policy continue.
- Concerns raised about pressure to disclose transgender status.
- Impact on military cohesion and morale debated.
Washington, Feb 28 (NationPress) The Pentagon has announced a mandate that service members and recruits diagnosed with gender dysphoria must be discharged from the US military, following an executive order issued by President Donald Trump a month prior.
The military has a 30-day timeframe to establish guidelines for identifying transgender service members for discharge, which may depend on self-disclosure or reports from peers.
A memo distributed to leaders of the Defence Department on Thursday requires the military to set up systems by March 26 to identify service members who are diagnosed with or undergoing treatment for gender dysphoria. After identification, the military will have a 30-day period to commence their removal.
This directive is a continuation of an executive order signed by President Trump early in his administration, laying out measures to prohibit transgender individuals from military service. This policy has encountered legal challenges.
Initial estimates indicate that hundreds of transgender service members could be pinpointed through medical records, as per US officials—a minor portion of the 2.1 million active troops.
Nonetheless, this matter has become a significant concern for the Pentagon, with President Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth advocating for their removal, asserting that their medical condition does not align with military requirements.
“The medical, surgical, and mental health limitations on individuals currently diagnosed with or showing symptoms of gender dysphoria are not compatible with the stringent mental and physical standards essential for military service,” stated Darin Selnick, serving as the defence undersecretary for personnel, in the recent memo.
The memo asserts that the effectiveness and integrity of the military “are incompatible” with the challenges faced by transgender personnel during their transition to their identified gender, declaring that gender is “fixed and unchangeable throughout a person's life.”
Attorneys for six transgender service members contesting Trump's executive order have claimed in court documents that the directive demonstrates “an antagonistic attitude” toward transgender individuals, treating them as “inferior and expendable” and diminishing their dignity among peers and the public.
Sarah Warbelow, vice president for legal affairs at the Human Rights Campaign, indicated that the policy places service members in a challenging situation, compelling transgender troops to disclose their identity.
“Suddenly, you must reveal your identity. Others may also be forced to disclose it,” Warbelow remarked.
“If you have a close friend in the military who knows you are transgender, under this new directive, they must start referring to you as ‘he’ and ‘sir’, effective immediately.”
Troops are faced with the dilemma of choosing “between the safety of their comrades and following direct orders,” Warbelow added, noting that transgender service members may be under pressure to self-identify, aware of the penalties for not coming forward.
On Thursday, US officials estimated that approximately 600 transgender personnel in the Navy and between 300 to 500 in the Army could be identified using medical records.
