A U.S. federal judge has temporarily blocked the Trump administration’s ban on transgender individuals serving in the military, citing the fundamental principle of equality and delivering a setback—at least for now—to the former president’s policy.
Judge Ana C. Reyes invoked the Declaration of Independence’s assertion that all people are “created equal” as she suspended Trump’s January order, which barred transgender Americans from military service. However, she granted the government until March 21 to appeal before the ruling takes full effect.
Trump’s directive argued that gender identity differing from biological sex was incompatible with the rigorous demands of military service. His administration has repeatedly sought to erase protections for transgender individuals, asserting that the U.S. government recognizes only two fixed sexes: male and female.
In a scathing rebuke, Reyes denounced the policy as “soaked in animus and dripping with pretext,” saying it unjustly stigmatizes transgender individuals as unfit for service. “The Military Ban is not based on fact; it is a policy of exclusion, not preparedness,” she wrote.
The decision comes amid broader political battles over transgender rights in the U.S., with different states adopting starkly opposing policies on gender identity, healthcare, and education.
The case was brought forward by transgender individuals currently serving or aspiring to serve in the military, challenging the administration’s latest attempt to roll back their rights. The ruling, while not final, represents a significant legal victory in the ongoing fight for transgender inclusion in the armed forces.
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