Fri Feb 28 03:14:55 UTC 2025: ## Pentagon Orders Purge of Transgender Troops; 4,200 Estimated Affected
**WASHINGTON, D.C. – February 28, 2025** – The U.S. military has been ordered to identify and remove transgender service members within the next 60 days, escalating a contentious policy stemming from a Trump-era executive order. A memo issued Thursday by the Department of Defense mandates the identification of approximately 4,200 troops diagnosed with or treated for gender dysphoria by March 26th, with their subsequent removal to begin within 30 days of that date.
The directive, part of the Pentagon’s response to ongoing litigation, seeks to enforce a ban on transgender individuals serving in the military, a policy challenged in court since its inception. The Pentagon estimates that between 2015 and 2024, approximately $52 million was spent on treatment for transgender service members.
Defense officials justify the policy, citing incompatibility between the medical needs of transgender individuals and the “high mental and physical standards” required for military service. They claim that the process of gender transition is at odds with the military’s “lethality and integrity,” asserting that gender is “immutable.”
However, advocates for transgender rights strongly condemn the order. Sarah Warbelow of the Human Rights Campaign criticized the policy, highlighting the pressure it places on transgender service members to self-identify, potentially jeopardizing their relationships and careers. The policy also forces cisgender colleagues to potentially violate orders by not using pronouns dictated by the directive.
Initial estimates suggest the Navy could quickly identify around 600 transgender troops, the Army 300-500, and the Marines fewer than 50. However, these numbers are likely underestimates, as they may not capture those who enlisted after transitioning or those whose medical records do not reflect their gender identity. Health privacy laws also pose a challenge to accurate identification.
Two narrow exceptions are included: transgender individuals who can prove their direct support to warfighting activities, or existing service members with gender dysphoria who can demonstrate their essential role in warfighting, remained stable in their biological sex for 36 months without distress, and never transitioned. Even with a waiver, biological sex would determine bathroom and sleeping assignments and official designations.
The policy follows President Trump’s attempt to ban transgender troops, which was overturned by President Biden. The ongoing legal challenges may yet influence the implementation of this latest directive. Transgender service members are advised to await further clarification from their superiors before taking any action that might affect their status.
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