Army memo sends mixed signals to transgender service members

Since President Donald Trump took office on January 20, he has focused much of his attention on attacking transgender Americans. After Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth assumed control of the Pentagon, he issued several directives regarding transgender military service members. Court documents reveal that throughout the military, there are mixed messages.

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One of the most glaring contradictions comes from an Army memo stating that transgender soldiers currently receiving medical care for gender dysphoria or transition will continue to receive treatment “consistent with the standard of care.” At the same time, the memo enforces policies that strip transgender service members of recognition, including requiring them to be housed according to their sex assigned at birth rather than their gender identity.

Related: What can trans people do about Trump’s executive orders? Be plaintiffs, says Lambda Legal

Additionally, while the memo instructs military leaders not to access or utilize medical records to identify transgender soldiers—at least for now—the Trump administration has already made clear its stance. With one of Trump’s first executive orders declaring that the federal government will only acknowledge male and female identities as assigned at birth, the administration has effectively erased the existence of transgender and nonbinary people in official policy.

Trump signed an executive order on January 28, which set the stage to reinstate a ban on transgender individuals serving in the military. The order mandates that the Department of Defense prohibit new enlistments of transgender individuals and restrict gender-affirming medical care for active-duty service members. A directive by Hegseth enforces these policies by halting promotions for service members with a history of gender dysphoria and pausing all scheduled and planned medical procedures related to gender transition. Advocacy groups argue that these restrictions will erode unit cohesion, diminish morale, and force out experienced personnel, ultimately weakening the military’s effectiveness.

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Related: Trump Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth enacts harshest anti-trans military policies yet

Despite the restrictive measures, the Army memorandum insists, "All servicemembers will be treated with dignity and respect at all times. Commanders must maintain good order and discipline and the safety, dignity, and respect of all of their assigned personnel." This statement, however, stands in stark contrast to the policies that effectively bar transgender troops from recognition and deny them the ability to serve as their authentic selves.

The legal battle over these policies is already underway. In the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, multiple transgender service members have filed suit against Trump, Hegseth, and other top military officials, seeking to block any ban on transgender military service. Plaintiffs, represented by organizations such as GLAD Law and the National Center for Lesbian Rights, have asked the court for a temporary restraining order to prevent the administration from implementing the executive order while the lawsuit proceeds.

The lawsuit argues that Trump’s directive violates the Fifth Amendment’s equal protection guarantees, asserting that transgender service members are being singled out for discriminatory treatment. The plaintiffs warn that they face irreparable harm without court intervention, including losing their military careers and essential medical care.