Washington, December 12, 2025 (Agencies) – A US federal appeals court has upheld the Pentagon’s ban on transgender individuals serving in the military, ruling that the policy does not violate constitutional protections.
In March, a judge appointed by former President Joe Biden had blocked the ban, arguing it likely infringed on equal protection rights. However, in a 2-1 decision on Tuesday, a panel of judges lifted the preliminary injunction.
War Secretary Pete Hegseth’s policy “likely does not violate equal protection,” Trump appointees Gregory Katsas and Neomi Rao wrote in their majority opinion. They emphasized that the policy “classifies based on the medical condition of gender dysphoria,” rather than sex or transgender status.
“The United States military enforces strict medical standards to ensure that only physically and mentally fit individuals join its ranks,” the judges noted. “For decades, these requirements barred service by individuals with gender dysphoria, a medical condition associated with clinically significant distress.”
Hegseth introduced the policy in February, a week after President Donald Trump signed an executive order titled ‘Prioritizing Military Excellence and Readiness’. The order directed the Department of War to ban anyone with a history of gender dysphoria from service, arguing the condition was “inconsistent” with the armed forces’ “high standards.”
The move is part of the Trump administration’s broader effort to roll back diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives, which the president has described as “radical gender ideology.”
The ruling follows a major precedent set in June, when the US Supreme Court upheld Tennessee’s ban on hormone blockers for children, finding it did not violate constitutional protections.