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United States: The D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals gave military forces until August 21 to restrict transgender personnel but stated they would explore potential legal action in case any detrimental measures arise against these service members.
Temporary Pause on Ban Enforcement
On Thursday night the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit granted an immediate administrative stay through its three-judge panel, as reported by Reuters.
The administrative stay provided time to determine whether transgender people would experience service disruptions while the government appealed a transgender personnel service ban challenge in court.
The delay “should not be construed in any way as a ruling on the merits” of the matter, according to the panel. Additionally, it stated that plaintiffs might submit an application to lift the stay, which the court would review “expeditiously,” if “any action occurs that negatively impacts service members.”
🔵U.S. FEDERAL JUDGE BLOCKS MILITARY TRANS BAN… AGAIN A second federal judge just blocked Trump’s attempt to ban transgender service members, calling it “blatantly discriminatory” and backed by zero evidence. Judge Benjamin Settle said the administration cherry-picked… pic.twitter.com/K80QzVCSIl
— News Now (@NewsNowUS) March 28, 2025
Legal Experts Weigh In
“It is a stay order that signals to the military that it should not harm service members while the stay motion proceeds,” said Jennifer Levi, a lawyer for the plaintiffs.
Circuit Judge Justin Walker received his appointment from President Trump during his initial presidential term. At the same time, Circuit Judge Karen Henderson obtained her position under the administration of President George H.W. Bush. The circuit panel consisted of Judge Patricia Millett who obtained her appointment from Democratic President Barack Obama.
Previous Ruling Challenged Ban as Discriminatory
The Department of Defense under the White House declined to comment on the matter while requests remained pending.
U.S. District Judge Ana Reyes from Washington determined the government must stop enforcing the ban throughout the ongoing legal process because the policy probably violated constitutional gender discrimination rules.
Trump Administration’s Policy on Transgender Service Members
Trump said in a January executive order that the “adoption of a gender identity inconsistent with an individual’s sex conflicts with a soldier’s commitment to an honorable, truthful, and disciplined lifestyle, even in one’s personal life.”
The military developed new separation procedures that ordered all service members diagnosed or affected by gender dysphoria to leave military service. Individuals who experience distress because their birth sex does not correspond with their internal gender identity show signs of gender dysphoria, as reported by Reuters.
Trump’s Democratic predecessor, Joe Biden, appointed Reyes, who stated in her decision halting the ban that “transgender persons can have the warrior ethos, physical and mental health, selflessness, honor, integrity, and discipline to ensure military excellence.”
