The US military will discharge transgender service members unless they obtain a waiver under strict conditions, according to a Pentagon memo made public on Wednesday.
This policy follows President Donald Trump’s late January executive order aimed at barring transgender personnel from military service.
The memo states that service members diagnosed with gender dysphoria—or those who exhibit symptoms—will be processed for separation from the military.
However, they may seek case-by-case waivers if they:
- Have never attempted to transition
- Can demonstrate three years (36 months) of stability in their biological sex
- Do not exhibit clinically significant distress in social, occupational, or personal areas.
Another memo issued earlier this month also bars transgender individuals from enlisting and halts gender transition treatment for those already in uniform.
Under the new rules, military applicants with:
- A history of gender dysphoria
- Cross-sex hormone therapy
- Sex reassignment or genital reconstruction surgery will be disqualified from service.
However, waivers may be granted in rare cases where there is a “compelling government interest” in their service.
The US military’s stance on transgender troops has shifted multiple times:
- 2016: President Barack Obama lifted the ban on transgender service members.
- 2017: Trump administration postponed recruitment of transgender individuals before deciding to reverse the policy entirely.
- 2019: Restrictions took effect following legal battles.
- 2021: President Joe Biden repealed the ban, allowing transgender troops to serve openly.
- 2025: Trump reinstates restrictions, claiming gender identity is incompatible with military service.
Transgender rights remain a major political issue in the US, with Democratic-led states expanding protections while Republican-led states impose restrictions on medical care and public accommodations.
This policy is expected to face legal challenges from advocacy groups arguing it discriminates against transgender individuals willing to serve in the military.