Trump needed this major court win.
In a major legal victory for President Donald J. Trump and advocates of a stronger, more unified military, the U.S. Supreme Court has allowed the reinstatement of his administration’s ban on transgender individuals serving in the armed forces. The decision clears the way for enforcement of a policy aimed at improving military readiness, cohesion, and national security.
The emergency ruling, opposed only by the Court’s liberal justices, removes a lower court’s block and signals a return to traditional values in military service. President Trump’s executive order, signed January 27, calls for the discharge of service members identifying as transgender. The directive closely mirrors a 2018 Trump-era policy previously upheld by the Court.
Under the Biden administration, that policy had been scrapped in favor of progressive priorities. But with President Trump now back in the White House, the focus has returned to restoring discipline, standards, and unity within the ranks.
Several transgender individuals, along with advocacy groups like the National Center for Lesbian Rights and GLAD, challenged the policy in court. They argued that it violated the 14th Amendment’s equal protection clause. A federal judge in Seattle initially sided with the plaintiffs, calling the new order “unfair” and issuing a preliminary injunction in March. The liberal 9th Circuit Court allowed that block to stand—until now.
Trump’s legal team, led by Solicitor General D. John Sauer, pointed to a nearly identical 2018 policy from then-Defense Secretary James Mattis. That policy disqualified individuals with gender dysphoria and was upheld in previous court battles. The Supreme Court found no compelling reason to treat this version differently.
President Trump’s latest order criticizes the spread of what he described as “gender radicalism in the military,” emphasizing that military service requires humility, sacrifice, and unwavering focus—not social experimentation.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth reinforced the message in a follow-up memo, stating that dividing troops by gender identity undermines morale and battlefield effectiveness. The policy also calls for ending taxpayer-funded gender transition procedures in the armed forces—another key concern for fiscally conservative Americans.
Transgender individuals are believed to make up less than 1% of military personnel. A 2016 Pentagon report cited by the Palm Center estimated fewer than 9,000 active-duty transgender troops at the time—a figure too small to justify sweeping policy changes that could harm combat performance.
This ruling comes as the Court prepares to hear arguments on a related issue—Tennessee’s law restricting so-called “gender-affirming care” for minors. Legal experts expect it to become a defining case in the national debate over gender policy.
With the Supreme Court siding with President Trump, this decision marks a turning point for those who believe the military should prioritize strength, readiness, and tradition over woke ideology.