The Pentagon has announced a significant policy change requiring all military personnel to undergo screenings for gender dysphoria during their mandatory physical exams. This directive, issued in the aftermath of a Supreme Court decision, aligns with an executive order signed earlier this year by President Donald Trump. The order states that individuals who do not identify with their biological sex cannot meet the stringent standards for military service.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, acting swiftly on the Supreme Court's endorsement, set forth a formal guideline for active-duty personnel diagnosed with gender dysphoria or with a related medical history to self-identify by June 6 to consider voluntary separation. Reservists have been given until July 6. The new policy has been met with commendation from conservative lawmakers who argue that military readiness should not be hampered by social experimentation. They contend that the armed forces should prioritize preparedness, unity, and physical capability rather than accommodating gender ideology.
Jules Hurst, the Pentagon's acting undersecretary for personnel and readiness, outlined the procedure in a memo. "Commanders who are aware of service members in their units with gender dysphoria, a history of gender dysphoria, or symptoms consistent with gender dysphoria will direct individualized medical record reviews of such service members to confirm compliance with medical standards," the memo read.
The screenings will be integrated into the Department of Defense's Periodic Health Assessment, a compulsory physical exam for all troops. Medical and command staff are instructed to use this as a mechanism to identify individuals affected by the new policy. The Pentagon estimates around 1,000 service members currently identify as having gender dysphoria and are anticipated to opt for voluntary separation under the new framework. The consequences for those who do not self-identify but are later found to be under the policy's scope remain unclear.
On the left, critics have labeled the changes as discriminatory and politically driven. They argue against using military resources, supported by taxpayer money, to manage the costs and logistics of "trans" treatments, such as hormone therapy and surgeries, which they consider elective medical interventions. With gender dysphoria now categorized as a disqualifying condition, service members must receive a specific exemption to serve, which is expected to be increasingly rare under the current administration's defense policies.
As the Pentagon begins this new phase, military leaders are tasked with promptly identifying affected individuals and ensuring adherence to the revised medical standards. The policy's effect on separations or voluntary resignations is yet to be determined, but it is clear that the standards for military service will now be more stringent regarding gender dysphoria.
