A federal judge in Washington, D.C., has sent Donald Trump’s latest transgender military ban straight to the legal graveyard. U.S. District Judge Ana Reyes ruled the ban unconstitutional, calling it “soaked in animus” and blasting its outright discrimination against trans service members. The ruling halts Trump’s executive order, which sought to bar trans individuals from serving openly, while giving the administration a few days to attempt an appeal.
“The policy stigmatizes transgender persons as inherently unfit, and its conclusions bear no relation to fact,” Reyes wrote in her decision, making it crystal clear that the ban was more about prejudice than national security. In a sharp rebuke to the Trump administration’s rhetoric, she pointed out the cruel irony: thousands of transgender service members have risked their lives for a country that was now trying to strip them of their rights.
But if you thought the administration was going to take this loss gracefully, think again. The Department of Justice immediately fired back, calling Reyes an “activist judge” and accusing her of trying to “seize power.” They defended the ban as part of Trump’s so-called “Defending Women Executive Order,” a thinly veiled excuse for discrimination that conveniently ignores the fact that trans service members have been serving with honor for years.
LGBTQ legal advocates, on the other hand, hailed the ruling as a victory for equality. Shannon Minter, legal director for the National Center for Lesbian Rights, emphasized that the ban was always a political ploy rather than a legitimate military policy. “Our plaintiffs include lifelong military personnel who served in combat, come from multi-generation military families, and have received honors like the Bronze Star,” Minter said. “This ban is unjustifiable and attacks brave servicemembers who sacrifice so much for our country.”
Trump’s ban was even more draconian than his first attempt during his initial term, which allowed trans individuals already serving to continue—though with significant restrictions on medical care. This latest version sought to purge trans people from the military entirely, requiring service members to be identified, disqualified, and discharged if they had a “history of gender dysphoria.” Under the ban, those already enlisted would have been forced to suppress their identities or be kicked out with an “honorable separation.”
Judge Reyes didn’t hold back in dismantling the administration’s weak justifications, especially when she pressed Justice Department attorney Jason C. Lynch on the policy’s clear bias. When he fumbled for answers, she delivered a scathing response: “Because any commonsense rational human being understands that it doesn’t.”
The ruling is a huge relief for trans service members, who have faced years of uncertainty as Trump and his allies have tried to erase their place in the armed forces. While the fight isn’t over—the administration may still appeal—it’s clear that Reyes’ decision is a powerful reminder that discrimination, no matter how it’s dressed up, doesn’t belong in the U.S. military.