In a chilling throwback to “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” military commanders across the U.S. armed forces are being instructed to identify transgender service members and push them toward medical discharges, according to new Defense Department directives aligned with President Trump’s reinstated ban. Under the latest guidance, troops with gender dysphoria will be flagged during routine annual health assessments or outed by their commanders—voluntarily or not.
Commanders are now being told to refer these individuals for medical reviews that could lead to forced separation from service. While the Department of Defense once considered combing through medical records to identify transgender troops, officials now say they’ll lean on routine assessments and commander-led reporting instead. The move comes with a disturbing incentive: troops who “voluntarily” out themselves will receive double the standard separation pay. Translation? A payout for leaving quietly.
A senior official noted that “commanders who are aware of service members in their units with gender dysphoria, a history of gender dysphoria, or symptoms consistent with gender dysphoria” must act to confirm if these troops meet the “medical standards” of military service. And if they don’t, they’re out.
Trans Identity on Trial — Again
This fresh crackdown follows the Supreme Court’s decision to allow the transgender military ban to go into effect, pending further legal challenges. It reverses protections reinstated under President Biden, and makes no exception for those already serving. That means even long-serving soldiers who have previously come out face dismissal unless granted a rare waiver.
The consequences are personal and brutal. The Department has already logged over 1,000 voluntary disclosures, and some 4,200 diagnosed cases of gender dysphoria across active duty and reserve units. But advocacy groups fear the real number is far higher, especially under the threat of forced exposure. What was once an environment slowly working toward inclusion is being actively weaponized into a policing tool for identity.
The process invokes the specter of the military’s dark past, when queer troops were forced to hide their identity or face expulsion. But this time, it’s targeting a new front: transgender Americans willing to serve their country. This effort doesn’t just target troops—it sends a message that the military is no longer a place where LGBTQ people can exist, let alone thrive.
A Dangerous Message in a Dangerous Time
The implications for the LGBTQ community, particularly transgender people, are staggering. Just weeks before Pride Month, the U.S. government is once again using policy to dehumanize queer citizens, presenting trans identity as a medical liability and a threat to military readiness. It’s not just about uniforms and ranks—it’s about visibility, legitimacy, and dignity.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, known for his anti-woke crusade, didn’t mince words in a recent speech, declaring: “No more dudes in dresses. We’re done with that s—.” His language wasn’t just offensive—it was a dog whistle to a conservative base eager to purge inclusivity from public institutions.
And let’s be clear: this is a calculated political move. The administration isn’t worried about readiness; it’s worried about optics. It’s willing to sacrifice the lives, careers, and well-being of brave transgender Americans for campaign slogans and culture war points.
In a time when trans youth are being banned from sports and gender-affirming care is under siege, this military policy adds another brick to the wall of systemic exclusion. The message from the top is loud and hateful: there is no place for trans people here.
But there’s another message, one that rings louder every year: trans people are not going away. They’re showing up, speaking out, and fighting back—even in camouflage.