On May 6, 2025, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in favor of the Trump administration’s controversial policy banning transgender individuals from serving in the military. This decision allows the executive order, signed a week after Trump’s inauguration in 2021, to take effect despite ongoing legal challenges.
The ban, which prohibits transgender people from enlisting and removes current transgender service members, was initially blocked by U.S. District Judge Ana Reyes in March 2025, who ruled it violated the Equal Protection Clause. However, the Supreme Court’s ruling overturns this decision, with the administration arguing that gender identity inconsistent with sex undermines military discipline and readiness.
LGBTQ+ advocacy groups, including Lambda Legal and the Human Rights Campaign, strongly condemned the ruling, calling it discriminatory and unrelated to military effectiveness. They pledge to continue fighting for the policy’s eventual reversal.
