The Trump Administration has asked the US Supreme Court to allow enforcement of a new Department of Defense policy that bars individuals diagnosed with gender dysphoria, or those living as a gender different from their biological sex, from serving in the US military.
The emergency appeal comes after US District Judge Benjamin Settle issued an injunction on March 27 blocking the policy from taking effect. Judge Settle ruled that the new restrictions likely violated constitutional protections, siding with plaintiffs who challenged the administration’s actions.
Now, America will discover if the president is, in fact, the commander-in-chief, or if the judicial system is actually in charge of the armed forces.
The Supreme Court instructed lawyers representing the challengers of the Trump Administration to file their response by Thursday, May 1, setting up a legal debate that will determine the near future, at least, of transgender military service. Trump’s decision to exclude transgenders from the military could be reversed by another administration, most probably by a Democrat.
On his first day in office, Jan. 20, President Donald Trump signed an executive order revoking a 2021 order issued by then-President Joe Biden, which had allowed transgender individuals to serve openly in the armed forces. Shortly afterward, Trump directed newly appointed Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, and he is implementing the ban.
People with gender dysphoria experience psychological distress due to incongruence between their actual biological sex and how they feel about their identity. It is a mental disorder. Transgenders take medication and have surgeries to alter their appearance so that the world will mistake them for the opposite sex.
Others who have medical and mental conditions are routinely denied enlistment into military service. Other disorders that prevent people from serving include things like bipolar disorder, generalized anxiety, panic disorder, or PTSD requiring treatment or medication, eating disorders, attention deficit disorder, suicide attempts and history of self-mutilation.
In February, the Department of Defense formalized a new policy that, with limited exceptions, disqualifies anyone diagnosed with gender dysphoria or anyone who has undergone medical procedures to switch genders.
The lawsuit challenging the policy was brought by seven transgender service members in the military and one transgender individual seeking to enlist.
The lead plaintiff is Commander Emily Shilling, a naval aviator for 19.5 years who has completed more than 60 combat missions, and has worked as a Navy test pilot. Shilling began his transition in late 2021, during the Biden administration’s inclusive policy era. In court filings, he, now living as a she, emphasized that the Navy has invested over $20 million in his/her training and experience.
The plaintiffs argue that the Trump administration’s policy violates the Constitution’s Equal Protection Clause, among other legal protections.
The case represents the first major legal test of Trump’s military policies since his return to the White House and will determine who is actually in charge of the military and determining the policies thereof.
This is beyond stupid. As CIC Trump can set almost any conditions he wants regarding military service.
Funny how the left respects elections.
By ignoring the will of the electorate.
Support this fully. Mental illness is grounds for “ red flag laws “ ( where applicable)
Putting weapons in the limp, wristed hands of someone who obviously has issues is never a good thing