The Trump administration has received approval from the Supreme Court to enforce a ban on transgender troops serving in the military while legal challenges are ongoing. The decision, delivered without explanation, could result in the discharge of numerous military members. Dissenting justices Sonia Sotomayor, Elena Kagan, and Ketanji Brown Jackson expressed their disagreement with the ruling.

Advocacy groups Lambda Legal and the Human Rights Campaign Foundation condemned the decision as discriminatory, asserting that transgender individuals are equally capable of meeting military standards. President Donald Trump reversed an executive order from the Biden administration that allowed open service for transgender individuals, subsequently issuing a new order prohibiting their military service.

The Defense Department began implementing the ban following the executive order, impacting approximately 4,240 military personnel diagnosed with gender dysphoria. Legal challenges against the ban had been successful in lower courts before reaching the Supreme Court. The ban’s opponents argue that it lacks justification and is rooted in bias.

The policy change has faced criticism for its broad scope, affecting a significant portion of transgender military members. Public opinion on transgender military service is divided along party lines, with a majority of Democrats supporting it compared to a minority of Republicans. The ongoing legal battle underscores the complex and contentious nature of the issue within the military and society at large.