Pentagon Begins Removal of Over 1,000 Trans-Identifying Service Members After Supreme Court Ruling

Following the Supreme Court's 6-3 decision to lift a nationwide injunction, the Department of Defense has begun the process of removing approximately 1,000 transgender service members diagnosed with gender dysphoria from the military. The Pentagon has issued a directive giving others 30 days to self-identify, while medical records are being reviewed to identify additional personnel who have not come forward. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has strongly supported the ban, emphasizing a shift away from what he described as 'wokeness and weakness' and reaffirming the administration's focus on military readiness. The Supreme Court's decision allows enforcement of the Trump administration's policy, which asserts that transgender service conflicts with military discipline and readiness, though the justices have yet to rule on the policy's merits. The removal policy has faced legal challenges, including a district judge's ruling that characterized it as discriminatory; however, the Supreme Court's order currently allows its implementation. Public opinion on the ban is divided, with a Rasmussen Reports survey showing a narrow majority approving the policy while a significant minority disapproves.