Department of Defense Plans to Reduce Troop Numbers Among Those with Gender Dysphoria

The Department of Defense (DoD) is taking a decisive step to enhance military readiness by disqualifying service members diagnosed with gender dysphoria. A new Pentagon memo directs a comprehensive review of personnel with past or present gender dysphoria diagnoses, setting the stage for their potential separation from the armed forces.

The memo, revealed in a Wednesday court filing amid a legal challenge to the military’s policy, makes it clear: “Service members who have a current diagnosis or history of, or exhibit symptoms consistent with, gender dysphoria will be processed for separation from military service,” according to Axios.

Key Details of the New Policy

• Case-by-Case Waivers: While the policy is strict, waivers may be granted under exceptional circumstances. These exceptions will be made “where there is a compelling government interest in retaining the service member that directly supports warfighting capabilities.”

• Stability Requirements: To be considered for a waiver, service members must have demonstrated “36 consecutive months of stability” in their biological sex without “clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning.”

• Alignment with Broader Medical Standards: The new rules treat gender dysphoria similarly to other medical conditions that can undermine readiness, including major depression, bipolar disorder, and anxiety disorders.

The policy shift is a direct result of an executive action by President Donald Trump on his first day back in office. Trump’s order rescinded a previous directive from former President Joe Biden, which banned “[d]iscrimination on the basis of gender identity” in the military.

Trump’s move is aimed at restoring military standards that prioritize physical and mental readiness over social experiments. The administration’s stance is clear: the military’s primary mission is to “fight and win wars,” and any policies that detract from this mission must be reevaluated.

Earlier this month, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth issued a related directive, halting all transgender treatments and surgeries for service members. The memo outlined an immediate pause on all “unscheduled, scheduled, or planned medical procedures associated with affirming or facilitating a gender transition for Service members.”

The decision to cut troops with gender dysphoria is likely to draw fierce criticism from left-wing activists who have long pushed for inclusivity in the military. However, the DoD’s policy falls in line with longstanding medical and psychological standards for service. The military has consistently disqualified individuals with conditions that could impair their ability to perform under the stress of combat.

Trump’s administration is sending a clear message: national defense and military readiness come first. As global threats rise, America’s armed forces need every advantage including ensuring that all service members are fully prepared for the rigors of military service.

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