The Trump administration’s attempt to strip transgender service members who have volunteered to put their lives on the line in defense of the U.S. of their right to serve has been halted—for now. In a powerful rebuke on Tuesday, Washington, D.C., U.S. District Judge Ana Reyes issued a preliminary injunction blocking the administration’s transgender military ban, calling it “soaked in animus and dripping with pretext.”
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For the thousands of transgender service members and those seeking to enlist, the decision is a lifeline. On Wednesday morning, attorneys and plaintiffs in Talbott v. Trump gathered for a press conference hosted by GLAD Law and the National Center for Lesbian Rights to discuss the ruling and what comes next.
“We belong here”
Major Erica Vandal, a United States Military Academy at West Point graduate, has dedicated nearly 14 years of her life to the U.S. Army, currently serving as a brigade fire support officer. At the press conference, she expressed deep gratitude for the ruling, emphasizing the contributions of transgender service members.
Related: Federal judge blocks Trump’s transgender military ban
“This ruling clearly recognizes that transgender soldiers, sailors, airmen, and Marines have been serving openly as our authentic selves for nearly a decade in every capacity, at every echelon, in every theater and combat zone across the world, all while meeting and exceeding the same standards as everyone else without causing any degradation in unit cohesion,” Vandal said. “We remain trained, ready, deployable—just wanting the opportunity to continue our legacy of honorable service to our country.”
For Vandal, the injunction brought a sigh of relief. “It’s a massive burden lifted knowing that I will be able to continue to provide for my wife and two children while continuing my career and lifelong passion as a field artillery officer,” she said.
Second Lieutenant Nicholas Talbott, whose military career was nearly derailed multiple times due to policy shifts banning transgender service members, also celebrated the ruling.
“We are ready. We are going to continue to show up every single day, put on our uniforms, and do the absolute best that we can to lead troops, our country, and do our jobs,” Talbott said.
Now a member of the Army Reserve, he fought for nearly a decade to enlist, facing repeated setbacks as policies changed around him. Despite these barriers, he persisted, excelling in training and earning recognition as an honor graduate in basic combat training. Now a platoon leader in a military policing unit, he oversees soldiers’ training, discipline, and readiness.”
The fight isn’t over
Jennifer Levi, senior director of transgender and queer rights at GLAD Law, called the ruling a pivotal moment in the ongoing legal fight against Trump’s efforts to erase transgender people from public life.
“The court looked at the evidence—and there was a lot of it. The government failed to produce anything to justify this purge of transgender people from service,” Levi said. “The court saw through it, calling the ban ‘soaked in animus’ and recognizing that it singles out transgender people for unfair treatment.”
The ruling is a significant win, but it is not yet permanent. The government has 48 hours to seek an emergency stay from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit, a move that could temporarily pause the decision.
“We don’t have any reason to expect the D.C. Circuit would step in to stay this order, as it would be highly unusual,” NCLR Legal Director Shannon Minter said. “The judge asked the government’s attorneys directly—do you have evidence to support your claims? And their response was clear: ‘No, we don’t.’”
Reyes’ blistering 79-page opinion dismantled the administration’s justifications and exposed the Pentagon’s reliance on misinformation and harmful stereotypes. She condemned the policy for using “overbroad generalizations” and cherry-picking studies, noting that the military spends nearly eight times more on Viagra than it does on transgender medical care. Justice Department lawyers had argued that the cost of gender-affirming care poses an undue burden on the taxpayer. The government also claimed that transgender people, who are required to be evaluated by health care professionals more frequently than their cisgender counterparts, are not deployable. However, the government’s own studies showed that compared to cisgender service members diagnosed with depression, trans troops are more deployable.
“This policy does not serve military readiness,” Reyeswrote. “It is a solution in search of a problem.”
Looking ahead
The LGBTQ+ legal team is confident that troops will be treated with the dignity they had in their units before their participation was questioned.
“The court is ordering the military to return to business as usual,” Levi said. “The truth is that we are hearing tremendous support from commanding officers and fellow troops. Many don’t understand why this ban was ever imposed in the first place.”
For Vandal, 36, and Talbott, 31, the ruling means they can continue doing what they’ve trained their whole lives to do—serve their country.
“I have received nothing but support, acceptance, and love from subordinates, peers, and superiors alike,” Vandal said. “Regardless of the rhetoric, I fully intend to continue being the professional expected of us and serving with honor.”
Before the Trump ban, Talbott was scheduled to attend the Military Police Basic Officer Leadership Course later this year.
“I will continue to show up for my drill weekends in the Reserve, put on my uniform, and do my job to the best of my ability,” he said.
A broader fight for trans rights
Beyond the immediate implications for transgender service members, advocates believe the ruling strengthens legal arguments against other anti-transgender policies.
“This decision adds to the growing number of courts that have said heightened scrutiny applies to laws targeting transgender people,” Levi said. “It also lays bare the hostility behind this administration’s actions—whether in the military, in health care, or beyond.”
For now, transgender service members and their advocates remain vigilant as the legal battle continues. But this week’s ruling is a crucial step forward.
“We are going to show up, we are going to do our jobs, we are going to stay mission-focused and combat-ready,” Talbott said. “Because at the end of the day, that’s really the only thing that matters.”
