Since returning to office, Trump has reinforced a strict binary definition of sex, stating that only male and female identities, as assigned at birth, are valid

By Titilope Adako

USA – A U.S. federal judge has temporarily suspended the Trump administration’s ban on transgender individuals serving in the military, citing the principle of equality.

The decision, delivered on Tuesday by Judge Ana C. Reyes, challenges President Donald Trump’s executive order issued in late January, which barred transgender people from enlisting or continuing service in the armed forces.

Reyes referenced the U.S. Declaration of Independence, which states that all humans are “created equal,” in her ruling that put a halt to Trump’s directive.

However, the suspension will remain on hold until March 21, allowing the government time to file an emergency appeal at a higher court.

If no stay is granted, the order will take effect, posing a significant setback to the Trump administration’s broader agenda of rolling back protections for minority groups.

Trump’s executive order, signed on January 27, declared that individuals expressing a “false gender identity” that differs from their sex at birth could not meet the rigorous standards required for military service.

Since returning to office, Trump has reinforced a strict binary definition of sex, stating that only male and female identities, as assigned at birth, are valid.

According to estimates, approximately 15,000 transgender individuals serve in the U.S. military out of a total force of around two million.

In February, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth issued a memo prohibiting new transgender enlistments and suspending gender transition treatments for service members already in the military.

The Pentagon also announced plans to begin removing transgender personnel unless they secure individual waivers, to be granted on a case-by-case basis.

Judge Reyes strongly criticized the ban, using forceful language to describe the administration’s policy.

“The Military Ban is soaked in animus and dripping with pretext,” she wrote.

“Its language is unabashedly demeaning, its policy stigmatizes transgender persons as inherently unfit, and its conclusions bear no relation to fact.”

She further argued that the administration had other options to address military readiness while upholding equal protection rights but instead chose to impose an outright ban.

The issue of transgender rights has been a flashpoint in U.S. politics in recent years, with states governed by Democrats and Republicans taking opposite stances on policies ranging from medical care for transgender individuals to restrictions on related literature in schools.

The military first lifted its ban on transgender service members in 2016 during President Barack Obama’s second term.

However, policies have shifted repeatedly under successive administrations, including those of Trump, Joe Biden, and Trump again.

Tuesday’s ruling came in response to a lawsuit filed by a group of transgender individuals, including both current service members and those seeking to enlist, challenging Trump’s executive order.

The case will likely continue through the courts as the administration seeks to defend its policy.

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