US appeals court blocks Pentagon removalblocks Pentagon removal of transgender troops
A divided US appeals court on June 1 ruled that the Pentagon cannot remove transgender troops from current service while a lawsuit continues, but it allowed restrictions on new enlistments to remain in place.
The case challenges a Trump administration policy tied to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, and the ruling matters because it could shape military policy, equal protection law, and the treatment of transgender service members.
Court Majority
The majority said the policy could not justify expelling current transgender troops while the legal case is being decided. It treated the removal policy as likely unlawful at this stage, while still recognizing the military’s authority to set enlistment standards.
Trump Administration
The administration has argued that the military should be able to keep transgender people out of service based on readiness and personnel standards. It can point to the part of the ruling that leaves restrictions on recruits in place.
- The D.C. Circuit is often viewed as the most important US appeals court after the Supreme Court.
- US military rules on transgender service have shifted several times in recent years.
- Equal protection claims are common in cases involving government policies that single out specific groups.
