Althouse: "Openly transgender service members will be disqualified from serving in the U.S. military and will soon be removed from the ranks..."

February 27, 2025

"Openly transgender service members will be disqualified from serving in the U.S. military and will soon be removed from the ranks..."

"... according to a Pentagon memo that marks a significant shift from previous Defense Department policy that prohibited discrimination based on gender identity. The memo was made public Wednesday as part of a lawsuit filed by LGBTQ+ rights groups against an executive order signed last month by President Donald Trump, which stated that the 'medical, surgical, and mental health constraints on individuals with gender dysphoria' were 'inconsistent' with the high standards expected of U.S. troops."

From "Transgender troops will be removed from U.S. military, Pentagon says/The previous Trump administration effectively banned transgender people from joining, but the new memo says currently serving transgender troops will be discharged" (WaPo).

58 comments:

n.n said...: Homosexuals? There is a time and place.; 2/27/25, 12:27 PM
The Cracker Emcee Refulgent said...: Funny and kind of nostalgic. When Trump ordered the ban during his first term I remember Inga going apeshit in these pages. Everything old is new again.; 2/27/25, 12:34 PM
Quaestor said...: Crazy, delusional persons should not have access to deadly weapons. I'm sure Inga, Dinky, and the entire gaggle of usual suspects who hold the Second Amendment to be obsolete and in need of complete revision if not outright repeal will agree with that premise, which will leave them the highly improbable problem of arguing that someone who believes he was born into the wrong body is not delusional.; 2/27/25, 12:37 PM
The Cracker Emcee Refulgent said...: I'm pretty much a 2A absolutist but I look forward to the day when "Do you believe you're transgender?" is a question on Form 4473.; 2/27/25, 12:41 PM
Hassayamper said...: These people are mentally ill by any reasonable definition of the term, a florid risk for suicide as well as violence towards real women, consume huge amounts of medical resources, and are almost always undeployable. Their contribution to the military does not outweigh the heavy burden they place on it. They join the service, squeak through boot camp, immediately declare themselves "trans", spend a year having psych evaluations and hormone treatments and genital mutilation surgery, then spend the next 3 years on light desk duty Stateside because they are psychologically too fragile to go into a war zone and require endless counseling about their new role as a stunning, brave woman. They don't belong in the military and never should have been allowed in.; 2/27/25, 12:42 PM
rhhardin said...: Tailhook was the start of the trouble. A softer, more considerate military.; 2/27/25, 12:45 PM
Enigma said...: Today's military is all-volunteer, paid professionals who are trained and expected to be top-tier killing machines. They must be strong, smart, and effective in that role.

Back when the USA had a military draft, they knew they'd get mixed quality soldiers and assign the weaker ones to support roles (and then end up paying lifetime veteran's benefits). I we bring back the draft, let in men, women, and all but assign them to kitchen duty, hospitals, or clean up.; 2/27/25, 12:47 PM
PM said...: "The cross-dresser character in MASH, played by actor Jamie Farr, would often wear women's clothing in an attempt to get discharged from the army."
Solved!; 2/27/25, 12:49 PM
NKP said...: From a medical view, these people are a nightmare. Surgeries, drugs, mental health, readiness for duty. Many people are medically disqualified from enlistment. Trannies belong on the list.

And, the cost of these people "fitting in" is a threat to good order, disipline and mission readiness. You have to "change" the "normal" to accommodate the "abnormal".

The military is all about "uniformity". There is nothing "uniform" about trannies.; 2/27/25, 12:50 PM
RideSpaceMountain said...: Finally. This was a symptom of the "bring your whole self to work" movement. It was abusive, corrosive to morale, and unethical to have taxpayers footing the bill for this insanity.

I'm a you do you kind of guy, and if puppy-play while wearing chastity cages with a dildo up your butt is your thing then you do it on your time, off-duty, and out of uniform.

The "wearing a chastity cage" story in uniform is true. During a health check at FLW 2 years ago a male PFC was found to be wearing one, without a key apparently, and the row it caused was only resolved upon a 'counseling session' informing the PFC that locking up his junk did not count as "jewelry". I've heard enough stuff in the Army to register 11 on my weird-shit-o-meter, but that one dropped my jaw.; 2/27/25, 12:50 PM
Quayle said...: This comment has been removed by the author.; 2/27/25, 1:00 PM
West TX Intermediate Crude said...: I read the first 20 or so comments at WaPo.
It appears the the WaPo folx disagree with Hassayamper, Quaestor and me.
Trans people are exactly the same as everyone else. Any discrimination against them is just like discriminating against Black people, or women.
No mention that the Army met its recruiting quota for the first time in years in December, after the election but when a new regime was on the way.
No mention of the huge need for ongoing maintenance medical interventions or the non-deployable status that goes along with transitioners.
They're just like you and me, really.; 2/27/25, 1:06 PM
Larry J said...: "NKP said...
From a medical view, these people are a nightmare. Surgeries, drugs, mental health, readiness for duty. Many people are medically disqualified from enlistment. Trannies belong on the list."

Exactly right. People undergoing transition undergo hormonal and surgical treatments that make them undeployable. That alone is reason to disqualify them from military service. There are people who were severely wounded in combat and were allowed to remain in the military. Transition treatment is not in any way comparable to that.; 2/27/25, 1:08 PM
Lazarus said...: No worries. Keir Starmer is here to help Trump set up Highland Regiments for male soldiers who just can't stop wearing skirts.; 2/27/25, 1:12 PM
n.n said...: Trans/sims = Trans/homos are in the transgender (i.e. a liberal state or process) spectrum. Trans/socials, too, but in drag.

As individuals, they have equal rights and responsibilities. As transgenders, their orientation has no redeeming value to society or humanity, but is tolerable in some respects (e.g. couplets in civil unions).

Under Democratic law, there cannot be discrimination of queer sexual orientations (e.g. incest, pedophilia, sadomasochism, homosexuality, polygamy, casting couches, etc). The price of free bennies for Democratic-aligned individuals is Moby Debt, a forward-looking noose on our [unPlanned] Posterity, and a dysfunctional society.; 2/27/25, 1:23 PM
Rabel said...: Multiple memos are cited, but the original memo which largely argued against admitting transgenders into the military was written in 2018 by - Jim Mattis.
https://media.defense.gov/2018/mar/23/2001894037/-1/-1/0/military-service-by-transgender-individuals.pdf; 2/27/25, 1:36 PM
Skeptical Voter said...: Well if Biden can order the discharge of military personnel who refused the Covid vaccine, Trump can order the discharge of transgender or other alphabet people. Sauce for the goose is sauce for the demi-Gander.; 2/27/25, 1:43 PM
Smilin' Jack said...: I’m OK with banning them from joining, but if they’re already serving it’s unfair to just kick them out. They should at least get full pensions and benefits.; 2/27/25, 1:45 PM
gilbar said...: serious question:
which of these two should be disqualifying for military service?
1) Plantar fasciitis
2) life-time dependence on testosterone replacement treatments?

apples and oranges?
how about These two
1) Suicide, suicide attempts, or suicidal behavior
2) saying that "YOU'LL KILL YOURSELF" unless they cut off your dick

https://militaryperson.com/army-medical-disqualifications-list/; 2/27/25, 1:47 PM
gilbar said...: here's more disqualifiers:
Men: Height under 60 inches (5’) or over 80 inches (6’8”)
Women: Height under 58 inches (4’10”) or over 80 inches (6’8”); 2/27/25, 1:48 PM
Skeptical Voter said...: Another thought on vaccines. I went through Basic Training and AIT at Ft. Polk in the summer of 1969. The military can be harsh on the question of vaccines. At the reception center you went through a vaccination line where you got vaccinated for almost any and every thing. Blackwater fever, dengue fever and who knows what else since most of us were going to have a high school graduation trip to Viet Nam. You could not opt out--not that you really wanted to considering where you were likely to be going. Covid OTOH--I don't know.

I do agree with some of the other commenters. A person in "transition" to another gender is a medical nightmare--lots of hormones, lots of medications, lots of psychiatric counseling .Those medical costs far exceed any military value the person might bring to the Armed Services.; 2/27/25, 1:50 PM
RideSpaceMountain said...: Smilin' Jack said, "They should at least get full pensions and benefits."

Tens of thousands over intervening decades have been discharged and lost their pensions, benefits, and disability for far less. Disagree.; 2/27/25, 1:52 PM
gilbar said...: Remember!
*THE* reason why health insurance HAS TO pay for gender reassignment treatments, is BECAUSE the patient has
a mental condition (gender dysphoria), which DRAMATICALLY Increases their likelihood of suicide or OTHER dangers to themselves OR OTHERS..

BY DEFINITION, they are Mentally ILL..
It is a SICKNESS, NOT a "choice"
Again, this is WHY insurance HAS TO PAY for it; 2/27/25, 1:54 PM
GatorNavy said...: Sorry, rhhardin, but you are incorrect. The current problems with the military go all the back to when our government accepted proportional response protocols. This is what the euroweenies foisted on our military, through NATO, in the late forties. It was all camouflage because of the bad press the French and Brit’s were getting because of colonial uprisings. Our response was predicated on overwhelming firepower and logistical excellence. But, because our political class was Eurocentric, our government deemed proportional response to be doctrine. So, we lost Korea and Vietnam and Beruit, got lucky the first time with Iraq and then the war against terror debacles too many to mention. All because the politicians wanted good press. If the US would have kept overwhelming firepower doctrine, the military would not have trans or women in the ranks, because we would need the best of the best killers. Lastly, the physically stronger the soldier, marine, sailor or airmen, the harder they are to kill.; 2/27/25, 1:56 PM
Dogma and Pony Show said...: "I’m OK with banning them from joining, but if they’re already serving it’s unfair to just kick them out. They should at least get full pensions and benefits."

What do you mean "full pensions?" For life? And full medical care through the VA for life? NFW. A big part of the reason for muster them out of the military as that they are soaking up far more value in terms of pay and so-called medical care than they're contributing. You want to guarantee them the same thing in retirement -- so they don't even have to show up?; 2/27/25, 2:19 PM
Jupiter said...: Perhaps this could be dealt with in the context of a massive reduction in America's military, both manpower and expenditure. It is ironic, to say the least, that the War Department was renamed the Defense Department right about the time US policy moved to all war, all the time, everywhere.; 2/27/25, 2:21 PM
paminwi said...: So after men have the surgery to transition to being a “woman” they have a fake vagina. Part of your daily care is to stick a dildo into that fake vagina at least once a day for 30 minutes. What person of normal sanity wants to have going on in the bonk above or below you?; 2/27/25, 2:23 PM
Dogma and Pony Show said...: Seems reasonable to let the CiC set reasonable criteria for who can serve based on physical and mental/psychological attributes to the extent those traits can be shown to have some relationship to the person's individual effectiveness and value to the service. You can't get into the military with a super-low IQ, for example, even though there may be specific jobs that a low-IQ person could theoretically do in the military. Anyone who has a medical/psych condition that's statistically likely to require significant amounts of treatment and/or result in a significant amount of time off should be excluded in the discretion of the CiC/SecDef.; 2/27/25, 2:31 PM
RideSpaceMountain said...: Jupiter said, "Perhaps this could be dealt with in the context of a massive reduction in America's military, both manpower and expenditure. It is ironic, to say the least, that the War Department was renamed the Defense Department right about the time US policy moved to all war, all the time, everywhere."

America ceased being a powerful nation and became an imperial nation after the war. Powerful nations make war. EMPIRES defend their empires. America inherited Britain's global empire and Britain's ancient mantra to "make the world England" along with their concordant hatreds and America is not Britain, was never designed to be Britain, should not wish to be Britain, and should get out of the business of being Britain.

Regarding downsizing the military, I disagree. Manpower yes, if for no other reason than the next 'big one' is going to see swarms of automated lethal systems the likes of which nobody can comprehend. I am super anxious that the predicted war with China will manifest at some point. I really hope not, but China is the enemy that keeps me up at night, and now is not the time to shirk expansion of the military in certain areas, especially the Navy.; 2/27/25, 2:46 PM
Kate said...: What @Hassayamper said at 12:42, except don't assume it's M>W. The Marine I knew of was a woman who wanted to be one of the guys. Transitioned on the taxpayers' dime. Beefed up and started drinking beers with the mates.; 2/27/25, 2:57 PM
Iman said...: It’s Hump Thursday and we’re treated to multiple helpings of Swanson Dingleberry Diatribes.; 2/27/25, 3:00 PM
Mason G said...: Men: Height under 60 inches (5’) or over 80 inches (6’8”)
Women: Height under 58 inches (4’10”) or over 80 inches (6’8”)

Why is there a difference based on sex? What benefit does a 4'10" woman provide that a man of the same height doesn't?; 2/27/25, 3:05 PM
Howard said...: Are they good to go if they are perfectly fit otherwise and do not have any surgical or pharmaceutical interventions? If you have a crank, go with the urinal team; 2/27/25, 3:33 PM
Mason G said...: From the article:

In a hearing of the Senate Armed Services Committee in 2018, then-Army Chief of Staff Gen. Mark A. Milley told Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-New York) that he had “received precisely zero reports of issues of cohesion, discipline, morale” caused by integrating transgender service members.

Zero reports of issues arising from policies specifically supported by military leadership? Gosh- I wonder why there weren't any.

Rhetorical question: What do you suppose would happen to someone reporting a problem with those policies?; 2/27/25, 3:48 PM
Gravel said...: One of my sons is part of recruiting and retention, so I asked him about this a few weeks ago. His response was that anyone who requires medication is undeployable. That includes hormone treatments.

Trans people do not have a good brand in the military.; 2/27/25, 4:34 PM
Jerry said...: "Rhetorical question: What do you suppose would happen to someone reporting a problem with those policies?"

They'd be told to STFU, STFD, delete their data, because it doesn't matter whether or not it's good, it's policy. And you're detrimental to morale and unit efficiency for daring to think that it's a problem. Since you bring it up you're obviously homo/trans phobic - which will be reflected in your next OER, so you'd better be happy with the rank you're at because you're not going to get promoted again.; 2/27/25, 4:36 PM
Rabel said...: Lady, you're fucking with my entertainment. Do you want to make a new enemy? I figure you have enough already.; 2/27/25, 5:40 PM
Jeff Renander said...: Aren't some of the Village People also Trans? I don't follow them.; 2/27/25, 5:51 PM
tcrosse said...: Are there any transgender people who are not openly so? Quite a few of them are exhibitionists.; 2/27/25, 5:53 PM
Bruce Hayden said...: “Trans people do not have a good brand in the military.
---------------
“Not like that Pete Hegseth brand.”

I think that he probably has a great brand in the military. They appear to love commanders who join them in PT. First time in years that recruiting is not only making its quota, but greatly exceeding it.

And what is there to love with transgendered? They tend to be self aggrandizing, with serious mental issues. And for the most part, they can’t be deployed, which makes everyone else compensate.; 2/27/25, 6:12 PM
Jupiter said...: It's really quite amazing. The idea of "transgender" did not exist 100 years ago. Just like the idea of "astronaut". There were no transgenders, and no astronauts. Now people can decide to be either one. But no one imagines that person X was "born" an astronaut, and therefore can't possibly be a ship-captain, or a brick-layer.; 2/27/25, 6:26 PM
Big Mike said...: Admiral “Rachel” Levine had an opportunity to convince us normals that transgenders are basically okay. “She” failed.; 2/27/25, 6:29 PM
Lilly, a dog said...: They should be treated with this level of cruelty. Make it legal to hunt them for sport, and sell them as meat.; 2/27/25, 6:30 PM
damikesc said...: I can certainly see the need to keep undeployable and mentally ill people on the government payroll indefinitely. Seems like a super solid use of monies.; 2/27/25, 6:40 PM
n.n said...: Planned Transgenderhood? Including transhomos, right? A reverse grooming, Diverse, Equitable, and Inclusive. Very progressive. Issue a liberal license to the empathetic Americans.; 2/27/25, 6:42 PM
n.n said...: This comment has been removed by the author.; 2/27/25, 6:46 PM
Joe Bar said...: These people are "Non-Deployable." After 26 years of active and reserve service in the Army, I was diagnosed with a disease that made me non-deployable. I was escorted to the door, and medically retired. This happens all the time. Luckily I had enough points and years for reserve retirement. There is no reason to keep these people in military service, if they cannot be sent to a war zone.; 2/27/25, 6:49 PM
n.n said...: Transgender (e g. homosexuals, simgenders, etc) were a Dream of Levine's Herr Mengele. DEI, too. Abortion was the choice of progressives to relieve "burdens" of democracy and evidence. Environmentalism was a woke conception. Ethnic Springs were celebrated at the twilight fringe in clinics in buffer zones.; 2/27/25, 6:49 PM
doctrev said...: It seems harmless to tolerate the hormonally imbalanced among the mentally ill, but you have examples in this very thread showing why that's a profoundly terrible idea. There are certainly enough stalker cases when it turns into full on violence. I think the posts one such deviant made earlier would be grounds for Althouse/ Meade to expose them, and call law enforcement if necessary. Yeesh.; 2/27/25, 7:03 PM
Mason G said...: "They should be treated with this level of cruelty."

What's cruel about not employing people you can't count on to be able to do the job you need done?; 2/27/25, 7:11 PM
gilbar said...: Thanx for the cleanup, Professor Althouse!
I tried not to respond to him, and hoped you scrub him out.; 2/27/25, 7:27 PM
Derve Swanson said...: Don't call the cops on begley just cuz he dropped the n word here as a White Man. It will just encourage him annie...

Take the tips for your work and run!; 2/27/25, 9:56 PM
Derve Swanson said...: gilbar, stains get scrubbed out, not people. Your mouth can't back up the words your hate spews. Don't put other people's lives at risk because of the hate in your heart. Better people are doing the work and protecting you tonight in your bed... count your blessings for them. ann and meade too. Sleep well, America!; 2/27/25, 9:58 PM
Derve Swanson said...: n.n said...
Transgender (e g. homosexuals, simgenders, etc) were a Dream of Levine's Herr Mengele. DEI, too. Abortion was the choice of progressives to relieve "burdens" of democracy and evidence. Environmentalism was a woke conception. Ethnic Springs were celebrated at the twilight fringe in clinics in buffer zones.
----------------
Only weapons will save us now.
Everybody arm up! Your wives and children too. Just like in Israel, where there's a monster under every bed out to get ya!; 2/27/25, 9:59 PM
Derve Swanson said...: uckily I had enough points and years for reserve retirement. There is no reason to keep these people in military service, if they cannot be sent to a war zone.
------------
Lol. He took the pay and bennies for 26 years, then when the wars came and the training was to be put to use... he "retired" to reserve level, kept collecting pay, and let the tranny soldiers serve in his stead... Now: kick em out so cripples like me can keep our jobs, he says. Lol.

Pray Petey H. gets rid of the deadweight alright... This guy sounds like a meade sponge.; 2/27/25, 10:01 PM
Derve Swanson said...: Lilly, a dog said...
They should be treated with this level of cruelty. Make it legal to hunt them for sport, and sell them as meat.
--------------
Game on!
"Who will pick up the flag and carry one once the professor falls?" I saw Glory. We all know how this one ends...; 2/27/25, 10:02 PM
Derve Swanson said...: Bruce Hayden said...
“Trans people do not have a good brand in the military.
---------------
“Not like that Pete Hegseth brand.”

I think that he probably has a great brand in the military. They appear to love commanders who join them in PT. First time in years that recruiting is not only making its quota, but greatly exceeding it.
-----------
Lol. Let em win a war before you go ordering the medals to pin on em?? And come on with the "success in recruiting!" bullshit.... Even if you and ann and meade and all the boomers here headed down to the recruitment laddies and lassies in the morning, we'd still have a shitshow military. You can't pay immigrants enough to take those jobs now... and no matter what the numbers tell you, not enough warm bodies are being enlisted. Only fucking fools join up today. Trumps knows that. So do you.; 2/27/25, 10:05 PM
Derve Swanson said...: And for the most part, they can’t be deployed, which makes everyone else compensate.
-------------------
Honestly? These are the men and women who fought YOUR wars of choice and are still serving their country while you gals bleat and tip annie for making safe spaces where you all can bemoan the niggers and trannies from your safe White liberal spaces....

We See You. It's not going to end pretty for the old White boomers who use their mouths more than their trigger fingers in real life. Go serve your country already, then come back and complain on the ann's bitch board? She has the sunrise gig down, what did you do to help your country today?; 2/27/25, 10:08 PM