Pentagon ends gender transition treatments for troops amid purge

The Pentagon, the United States Department of Defense, has announced the immediate cessation of all gender transition treatments for transgender troops as part of a directive tied to President Donald Trump's administration. This policy has emerged in the wake of a Supreme Court ruling, allowing the Trump administration's executive order banning transgender individuals from military service to take effect. The memo issued by Acting Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs Stephen Ferrara indicates that the Defense Department will no longer cover medical procedures related to gender transition, instead referring all treatments to private healthcare providers. Planned surgeries and procedures will be canceled, although service members currently receiving cross-sex hormone therapy may continue their treatment until they exit the military to prevent any health complications. This measure has significant implications for transgender individuals serving in the U.S. military, with many fearing loss of medical care and support from the military health system. Service members diagnosed with or exhibiting signs of gender dysphoria have been given deadlines for voluntary departure; active-duty members must leave by June 6, and reservists have until July 7 to comply with this new directive. Following this announcement, officials have stated that failure to exit voluntarily may result in mandatory separation from military service. Transgender troops have expressed feelings of betrayal and discrimination, citing this decision as a clear indication that they are no longer provided the same standards of medical care afforded to their peers in uniform. The decision by the Pentagon is part of a broader strategy that officials claim is aimed at enhancing military readiness, unit cohesion, and operational effectiveness. Prior to this, the Obama administration had lifted the ban on transgender service members in 2014, creating a situation where thousands of individuals could openly serve. The current administration views the rollback of these policies as necessary for maintaining armed forces that are focused on fighting capabilities, arguing that operational readiness could be compromised by accommodating transgender service personnel. The polarized debate surrounding this issue continues, with advocates for transgender rights opposing the policy's implications while some military leaders reiterate their commitment to a merit-based military environment devoid of gender identity considerations.