Defense Secretary Hegseth Orders Transgender Troops to Exit Military by June 6

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has set a rapid timeline requiring transgender service members to voluntarily leave the U.S. military by early June, with active-duty members having until June 6 and reservists until July 7 to separate with eligibility for voluntary separation pay. This follows the Supreme Court's recent ruling allowing enforcement of President Trump's transgender military ban, which Hegseth has described as consistent with national security interests and military readiness. Approximately 1,000 transgender troops who have self-identified with gender dysphoria are beginning the voluntary separation process, after which involuntary separations may proceed. Hegseth framed this policy as fulfilling the president’s agenda and emphasized a return to traditional military priorities, rejecting policies he associates with "wokeness" and social experimentation. Advocacy groups have condemned the ruling and policy as discriminatory and harmful, highlighting the coercive nature of the voluntary separation deadline. The Pentagon and Hegseth justify the ban by arguing that transgender service members cannot meet rigorous military standards and that their presence affects military efficiency and morale.