US to remove trans troops unless waivers linked to 'warfighting capabilities'

The United States will begin dismissing transgender troops from the military within 30 days unless they secure waiver on a case-by-case basis, according to a Pentagon memo released Thursday.

The memo comes after President Donald Trump's executive order issued in late January, which aims to bar transgender individuals from country's military service.

The directive states: "Service members who have a current diagnosis or history of, or exhibit symptoms consistent with, gender dysphoria will be processed for separation from military service."

However, they may qualify for a waiver if a "compelling government interest" in retaining them supports "warfighting capabilities."

To be eligible for a waiver, troops must prove they have never attempted to transition and demonstrate "36 consecutive months of stability" in their sex without significant social or occupational distress.

The policy marks another shift in a series of changes affecting transgender military service. In 2016, the US military lifted a ban on transgender troops under former President Barack Obama, allowing them to serve openly and paving the way for new transgender recruits.

However, Trump's first administration delayed the enlistment date before reversing the policy entirely, leading to legal challenges that reached the Supreme Court. The restrictions were implemented in April 2019.

Former US President Joe Biden overturned these restrictions in 2021, advocating that all qualified Americans should be allowed to serve.

After returning to office, Trump issued a new executive order arguing that expressing a “false gender identity” is incompatible with military standards.

Transgender rights have become a contentious political issue in the US, with Democratic and Republican states enacting opposing policies on medical treatments and educational materials related to gender identity.