Appeals court panel rules that transgender troops were illegally barred from U.S. military service
By — Michael Kunzelman, Associated Press Michael Kunzelman, Associated Press By — Lindsay Whitehurst, Associated Press Lindsay Whitehurst, Associated Press Leave your feedback Share Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/appeals-court-panel-rules-that-transgender-troops-were-illegally-barred-from-u-s-military-service Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Appeals court panel rules that transgender troops were illegally barred from U.S. military service Politics Jun 1, 2026 2:09 PM EDT WASHINGTON (AP) — A Trump administration policy illegally banned transgender troops from military service, a divided panel of federal appeal court judges ruled on Monday . WATCH: Transgender military members fight to continue serving despite Trump's ban The majority opinion by a three-judge panel from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia circuit largely upholds a March 2025 ruling by U.S. District Judge Ana Reyes in Washington, D.C. Reyes concluded that President Donald Trump's executive order to exclude transgender troops from military service likely violates their constitutional rights. Educate your inbox Subscribe to Here’s the Deal, our politics newsletter for analysis you won’t find anywhere else. The administration appealed after Reyes issued a preliminary injunction requested by attorneys for six transgender people who are active-duty service members and two others seeking to join the military. The appeal court's majority decided that the injunction should be narrowed to the plaintiffs currently serving in the military but not those seeking to join. The ruling won't immediately go into effect, allowing the administration time to ask the full appeals court to hear the case. The U.S. Supreme Court allowed the transgender military ban to go into effect last year, as litigation continues to play out. Another lawsuit challenging the ban was filed in Washington state and led to a ruling in favor of the plaintiffs challenging the policy in that case. READ MORE: Supreme Court allows Trump's transgender military ban to take effect, for now In January 2025, Trump signed an executive order that claims the sexual identity of transgender service members "conflicts with a soldier's commitment to an honorable, truthful, and disciplined lifestyle, even in one's personal life" and is harmful to military readiness. In response to the order, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth issued a policy that presumptively disqualifies people with gender dysphoria from military service. Gender dysphoria is the distress that a person feels because their assigned gender and gender identity don't match. The medical condition has been linked to depression and suicidal thoughts. The policy "appears to be driven by the bare desire to harm a politically unpopular group: persons who identify as transgender," Judge Robert Wilkins wrote for the majority. Wilkins was nominated to the court by Democratic President Barack Obama. In a dis
Wow, this is huge! Its a historic win for LGBTQ+ service members and a huge step forward for equality. This ruling shows that the military must be inclusive and respect the rights of all its members, regardless of gender identity. The Associated Press did an excellent job covering this important story, and Im excited to see what impact this ruling will have on our military and society as a whole. #LGBTQ+Rights #MilitaryEquality
While this ruling is a significant step forward, its crucial that the military continues to address underlying issues of discrimination and bias. #MilitaryEquality #LGBTQ+Rights
Absolutely! This is a landmark decision that not only benefits transgender service members but also paves the way for greater inclusivity across all branches of the military. Its a significant step towards creating a more just and equitable society for everyone.
Wow, what an incredible decision by the appeals court panel! Its about time they realized that allowing transgender troops to serve in the military was not only illegal, but also just a matter of common sense. This ruling is a huge victory for equality and fairness, and I cant wait to see what the military will do now. I hope theyll start accepting applications from transgender individuals immediately. #TransMilitary #Equality #Fairness
A decision upholding transgender service in the military aligns with principles of equality and fairness. Its a significant step toward inclusivity and upholding the militarys core values.
As a conservative, I believe that military service should be open to all who can meet the physical and mental standards. The decision upholding transgender service in the military contradicts these values and could weaken our national security. Its essential to prioritize traditional values and protect the rights of our service members.
Its a shame the military had to be dragged kicking and screaming into this. Equality should have always been a given.