Fri Mar 28 01:38:03 UTC 2025: ## Federal Judge Blocks Trump’s Transgender Military Ban

**Tacoma, WA –** A U.S. District Court judge in Washington state has issued a nationwide injunction blocking President Donald Trump’s executive order banning transgender individuals from serving in the military. This marks the second such injunction in as many weeks, following a similar ruling from a Washington D.C. judge.

Judge Benjamin Settle’s ruling on Thursday, March 27th, sided with several transgender military members who argued the ban is discriminatory and causes irreparable harm to their careers. The plaintiffs, including long-serving members and represented by the Gender Justice League and Lambda Legal, contend the ban is unjust and harmful, citing the ability of transgender service members to meet all physical and performance requirements. Attorneys highlighted that the government provided no evidence that allowing transgender people to serve openly has negatively impacted military readiness.

The Trump administration’s January 27th executive order claimed that the sexual identity of transgender service members conflicts with military values and harms readiness. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth subsequently issued a policy effectively disqualifying transgender individuals from service, a policy lacking the exceptions present in previous administrations. Thousands of transgender individuals currently serve in the military, though they constitute less than 1% of active-duty personnel.

While a previous administration under President Obama allowed transgender individuals to serve openly, President Trump’s initial ban was upheld by the Supreme Court before being overturned by President Biden upon taking office. The current ban, however, is stricter than previous iterations. A separate, more limited ruling in New Jersey also prevented the Air Force from removing two transgender men.

The Justice Department argued that the president should have deference in military matters, but Judge Settle, a George W. Bush appointee, questioned the lack of evidence supporting the claim of harm to military readiness caused by transgender service members. The injunction will remain in effect pending further legal proceedings.

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