Pentagon Halts Gender-Affirming Care, Enforces Ban

The Pentagon has ordered an immediate halt to all gender transition treatments for transgender troops, including new hormone therapies and surgeries, in line with President Donald Trump's executive order reinstating a ban on transgender military service. Existing hormone treatments may continue only if medically necessary and until a service member's separation, with all other care referred to the private sector. All scheduled or planned gender-affirming surgeries have been canceled. Troops diagnosed with gender dysphoria are being given deadlines to leave the military or face involuntary separation. The move comes after a U.S. Supreme Court decision permitted the ban to proceed while legal challenges are ongoing. While advocacy groups and transgender service members have condemned the policy as discriminatory, some Pentagon officials argue it is necessary for military readiness and upholding biological definitions of sex.