The U.S. Supreme Court has approved the implementation of a controversial Trump-era policy banning transgender individuals from military service, even as legal challenges continue in lower courts, according to Gazeta Sinjali.
The decision pertains to a policy that implicitly excludes transgender individuals from serving in the U.S. Armed Forces. Liberal justices dissented, expressing a preference to keep the ban on hold while legal appeals are heard.
This ruling marks another milestone in the broader rollback of transgender rights undertaken during President Donald Trump’s second term, which began in January.
The policy was initiated through an executive order, where President Trump argued that the gender identity of transgender troops conflicts with the military’s values of discipline, authenticity, and integrity, thereby undermining operational readiness.
Following the executive directive, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth issued a departmental policy requiring all military branches to develop identification and discharge procedures for transgender personnel within 30 days.
Critics argue the move violates constitutional protections and undermines the contributions of transgender individuals serving honorably in uniform.
