Military commanders will be told to send transgender troops to medical checks to oust them
Share this @internewscast.com

Military leaders will be instructed to pinpoint service members within their ranks who are transgender or experiencing gender dysphoria, and subsequently direct them to undergo medical evaluations as a step towards their removal from the armed forces, officials announced on Thursday.

An authoritative defense official described what could become a complicated and extensive new procedure designed to implement President Donald Trump’s mandate to exclude transgender individuals from serving in the U.S. military.

This new directive for commanders draws on the routine annual health assessments that all service members are mandated to complete. Another military official mentioned that, for the time being, the Defense Department has shelved plans to review service members’ health records to determine those experiencing gender dysphoria.

Instead, transgender troops who do not voluntarily come forward could be outed by commanders or others aware of their medical status. Gender dysphoria occurs when a person’s biological sex does not match up with their gender identity.

The defense officials spoke on condition of anonymity to provide details of the new policy. The process raises comparisons to the early “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy, which at times had commanders or other troops outing gay members of the military who – at the time – were not allowed to serve openly.

Active-duty troops will have until June 6 to voluntarily identify themselves to the Defense Department, and troops in the National Guard and Reserve have until July 7.

The department is offering a financial incentive to those who volunteer to leave. They will receive roughly double the amount of separation pay than those who don’t come forward.

Initially, officials said the Defense Department would begin going through medical records to identify anyone who did not come forward voluntarily. That detail was not included in the new guidance released Thursday.

While the department believes it has the authority to review medical records, it would rather go through a more routine health assessment process, the defense official said. Traditionally, all service members go through a health assessment once a year to determine if they are still medically able to serve.

A new question about gender dysphoria is being added to that assessment. Active-duty troops who do not voluntarily come forward would have to acknowledge their gender dysphoria during that medical check, which could be scheduled months from now.

A unit commander could expedite the health assessment.

Under the new policy, “commanders who are aware of service members in their units with gender dysphoria, a history of gender dysphoria, or symptoms consistent with gender dysphoria will direct individualized medical record reviews of such service members to confirm compliance with medical standards.”

The defense official said it is the duty of the service member and the commander to comply with the new process. The department is confident and comfortable with commanders implementing the policy, and it does not believe they would use the process to take retribution against a service member, the senior defense official said.

It comes after the Supreme Court recently ruled that the Trump administration could enforce the ban on transgender people in the military while other legal challenges proceed. The court’s three liberal justices said they would have kept the policy on hold.

Officials have said that as of Dec. 9, 2024, there were 4,240 troops diagnosed with gender dysphoria in the active duty, National Guard and Reserve. But they acknowledge the number may be higher.

There are about 2.1 million total troops serving.

In a statement, Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said earlier this month that about 1,000 troops already have identified themselves and “will begin the voluntary separation process” from the military. That can often take weeks.

Trump tried to ban transgender troops during his first term, while allowing those currently serving to stay on. Then-President Joe Biden overturned the ban.

The new policy does not grandfather in those currently serving and only allows for limited waivers or exceptions.

Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth allege that troops with gender dysphoria don’t meet military standards. Hegseth has tied his opposition to a campaign to rid the department of “wokeness.”

“No More Trans @ DoD,” Hegseth wrote in a post on X. In a recent speech to a special operations conference, he said: “No more dudes in dresses. We’re done with that s—.”

Copyright © 2025 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.

Share this @internewscast.com
You May Also Like
Idaho police release investigation photos of Kohberger's car and crime scene where four students died

Idaho Police Unveil Investigation Images of Kohberger’s Vehicle and Scene of Student Deaths

Idaho State Police have released hundreds of photos from their investigation into…
Trump ran on a promise of revenge. He's making good on it

Trump Followed Through on His Promise of Retribution

Donald Trump campaigned with a vow to utilize governmental authority to exact…
Mandatory evacuation issued following explosion at Louisiana plant

Louisiana plant explosion prompts mandatory evacuation order

A mandatory evacuation has been issued following an explosion at a plant…
US seeks to deport Kilmar Abrego Garcia, released from criminal custody, to Uganda after he did not plead guilty in smuggling case

U.S. Aims to Deport Kilmar Abrego Garcia to Uganda Following Release from Custody and Lack of Guilty Plea in Smuggling Case

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — According to a court filing on Saturday, immigration officials…
Soldiers and helicopters during a NATO military exercise.

Establishing a “No-fly Zone” and Deploying Ground Troops: U.S. and Europe’s Possible Strategies to Shield Ukraine from Vlad’s Campaign

AMERICA and its European allies are working on military plans to offer…
Kirill Vyshinsky, executive director of Russia Today.

Putin Propagandist Accused of Treason Dies ‘Suddenly’ at 58, Adding to Mysterious Deaths Among Russian Allies

A TOP Russian propagandist who was once accused of treason by Ukraine…
Gap Enlists Multicultural Girls Group Katseye And The Song ‘Milkshake’ For Jeans Ad In Apparent Response To Sydney Sweeney And American Eagle

Gap Partners with Diverse Girl Group Katseye Using ‘Milkshake’ Song for New Jeans Ad Following Sydney Sweeney’s Collaboration with American Eagle

Gap’s latest “Better In Denim” jeans ad, featuring the contrived multicultural girl…
Florida puts rainbow crosswalks in the crosshairs, as cities face deadlines to remove them

Florida Targets Rainbow Crosswalks with Removal Deadlines for Cities

Several cities in Florida are now confronted with impending deadlines after being…
Biden judge frees teens tied to ex-DOGE staffer's assault as Trump cracks down on crime

Judge Appointed by Biden Releases Teens Linked to Ex-DOGE Staffer’s Assault as Trump Intensifies Crime Crackdown

Two teenagers charged in connection with an attempted carjacking and brutal beating…
Columbia University student among 5 killed in New York tour bus crash after Niagara Falls visit

Columbia University Student Among 5 Victims in New York Bus Crash After Niagara Falls Trip

Among the five individuals who lost their lives on Friday in an…
Portrait of Letícia Paul.

A young law graduate, aged 22, passes away following a serious allergic reaction during a CT scan; her family honors her as a ‘lively young woman’

A YOUNG law graduate has tragically died after suffering a severe allergic…
President Trump holding a photo of himself and President Putin.

Trump Sets Two-Week Deadline for Zelensky-Putin Peace Talks and Extends Unusual World Cup Invitation to Putin

DONALD Trump has announced that he will give Vladimir Putin a couple…