Military scrambles to follow order to remove transgender troops

“My command expects me to show up and be an officer and do my job because I’m the only person at my unit who can do what I do.”The military services were rushing to put out new guidance to help commanders work through the process, including what to do in more complex situations, such as if any of the troops are deployed, at sea, or may require special orders or funding to meet the deadlines.Here's a look at the issue and what happens next: What is going on with banning transgender troops?In 2015, then-Defense Secretary Ash Carter broached the idea of lifting the ban on transgender troops and allowing them to serve openly, which raised concerns among military leaders. That process stopped in late March due to the lawsuits, but officials said Friday they were dusting off those files and figuring out how to proceed.Still, exactly how many troops may be affected is complicated, and the military services are grappling with how to identify and remove them all.Defense officials have said that 4,240 troops currently serving in active duty, the National Guard and Reserve have been diagnosed with gender dysphoria, and they contend that, as of late last year, about 3,200 service members had received gender-affirming hormone therapy from 2015 to 2024, and about 1,000 received gender-affirming surgery.Previously, however, estimates of transgender troops have hovered between 9,000 and 12,000. Those troops may not qualify for some of that additional pay.The Pentagon policy, as written earlier this year, would allow for limited exemptions.That includes transgender personnel seeking to enlist who can prove on a case-by-case basis that they directly support warfighting activities, or if an existing service member diagnosed with gender dysphoria can prove they support a specific warfighting need, never transitioned to the gender they identify with and prove over 36 months that they are stable in their biological sex “without clinically significant distress.”If a waiver is issued, the applicant would still face a situation where only their biological sex would be recognized for bathroom facilities, sleeping quarters and even in official recognition, such as being called “Sir” or “Ma’am.”What will it mean?Over the years, transgender troops have been serving effectively in all of the services, according to military leaders, who told Congress they were not seeing any problems.

Author: Lolita C. Baldor

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