Trump administration asks Supreme Court to allow discharge of 29 transgender service members

transgender military ban Supreme Court appeal Department of Defense policy military service eligibility gender dysphoria policy

The Trump administration has filed an urgent appeal with the U.S. Supreme Court seeking the immediate removal of 29 active-duty, reservist, and National Guard service members who are transgender. The administration argues that the military must retain broad authority to determine service eligibility, describing the matter as one of “exceptional importance.”

The appeal seeks to overturn lower court rulings that have prevented the Pentagon from enforcing a policy established by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. This policy effectively excludes individuals with a diagnosis or history of gender dysphoria from military service. While some courts have previously found the ban likely violates constitutional rights to due process and equal protection, the government disputes these findings.

Currently, the 29 plaintiffs remain in their positions while their legal challenge moves toward a trial scheduled for January. The Supreme Court will consider whether to intervene and allow the discharges to proceed before that trial begins.

Entities

Department of Defense · Donald Trump · Hegseth · John Sauer · Pete Hegseth · Supreme Court of the United States · Trump administration

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

[● 13 SOURCES] Several courts found the ban likely violated service members' constitutional rights to due process and equal protection. abc30.com · 6abc.com · abc7.com · thepulseofnh.com · abc11.com · +8 more
[● 8 SOURCES] A divided panel of appeals court judges ruled that a Trump administration policy illegally banned transgender troops from military service. abc30.com · 6abc.com · abc7.com · thepulseofnh.com · abc11.com · +3 more
[● 10 SOURCES] In the case U. S. v. Talbott, federal judges blocked the military from discharging more than two dozen individual plaintiffs in June. abc30.com · 6abc.com · abc7.com · thepulseofnh.com · abc11.com · +5 more
[● 11 SOURCES] The military's authority to determine service eligibility is a matter of exceptional importance. abc30.com · 6abc.com · abc7.com · thepulseofnh.com · abc11.com · +6 more
[● 13 SOURCES] The Trump administration filed an urgent appeal with the Supreme Court seeking the immediate removal of 29 active-duty transgender service members. abc30.com · 6abc.com · abc7.com · thepulseofnh.com · abc11.com · +8 more
[● 13 SOURCES] The government is challenging the constitutionality of the policy established by Department of Defense Secretary Hegseth. abc30.com · 6abc.com · abc7.com · thepulseofnh.com · abc11.com · +8 more