The Pentagon has announced the start of a sweeping new policy that could lead to the removal of up to 1,000 openly transgender service members from the U.S. military.

This follows a recent Supreme Court decision allowing the Trump administration to implement its controversial ban on transgender individuals in the armed forces, pending the outcome of ongoing legal challenges.

Under a directive issued Thursday by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, troops who have self-identified as transgender will begin the process of voluntary separation from military service.

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Meanwhile, all other active duty, National Guard, and Reserve members have been given 30 days—until June 6 for active duty and July 7 for Guard and Reserve—to come forward if they identify as transgender.

Those who do not self-identify may still be flagged based on medical records that show a diagnosis of gender dysphoria.

“No More Trans @ DoD,” Hegseth declared in a post on X (formerly Twitter), soon after the high court allowed the ban to be enforced.

No More Trans @ DoD. https://t.co/BWn8CAFvWs

— Pete Hegseth (@PeteHegseth) May 6, 2025

At a special operations conference in Tampa earlier that day, he left little ambiguity about his stance: “No more pronouns. No more dudes in dresses. We’re done with that s—.”

The Defense Department says it will rely on medical documentation—particularly diagnoses of gender dysphoria, related treatments, and medications—to identify transgender personnel who have not voluntarily disclosed their status.

Gender dysphoria is a clinical condition in which an individual’s gender identity does not align with their biological sex, and those who receive such a diagnosis will now be deemed ineligible to serve, regardless of current performance or history.

As of December 9, 2024, the Pentagon acknowledged that at least 4,240 troops had been diagnosed with gender dysphoria across all branches, including active duty, National Guard, and Reserve components.

However, defense officials admit the real number could be significantly higher.

With a total force of approximately 2.1 million service members, the newly implemented policy may affect a small but significant portion of the military. The current directive echoes a similar February memo, which was temporarily halted by a series of lawsuits.

That legal pause ended this week when the Supreme Court lifted the stay, allowing the administration to proceed.

Though the Supreme Court’s order provided no explanation—a common occurrence for emergency rulings—the court’s three liberal justices dissented, indicating they would have blocked the policy while further litigation continued.

Sean Parnell, a Pentagon spokesman, confirmed that roughly 1,000 troops had already come forward under the original 30-day directive earlier in the year. “Those individuals will begin the voluntary separation process,” he stated.

Pentagon officials maintain that the policy is based on readiness, not identity.

In a previous memo defending the restrictions, they argued that “the medical, surgical, and mental health constraints on individuals who have a current diagnosis or history of, or exhibit symptoms consistent with, gender dysphoria are incompatible with the high mental and physical standards necessary for military service.”

Financial implications have also been cited. Between 2015 and 2024, the Department of Defense spent approximately $52 million on gender-affirming care, including psychotherapy, hormone therapy, and surgery, according to a defense official who spoke anonymously.

Although the new rules are broadly restrictive, they do allow for narrow exemptions. For example, transgender individuals seeking to enlist may still be considered if they can demonstrate they directly support warfighting activities.

Additionally, current service members with a gender dysphoria diagnosis might be granted a waiver if they have not undergone gender transition, have been stable in their birth sex for at least 36 months, and can prove a direct contribution to a specific warfighting need.

Even if granted a waiver, those individuals would be required to abide by the norms of their biological sex within the military, including use of gender-specific facilities and being addressed by gendered titles such as “Sir” or “Ma’am,” consistent with their sex assigned at birth.

This renewed push marks a dramatic shift in the Pentagon’s approach to gender identity, reversing the inclusive policies enacted under previous administrations.

Critics argue the policy undermines the service of thousands of troops and injects political ideology into national defense.

Supporters, including Secretary Hegseth, insist the military is returning to its core mission. “We’re leaving wokeness and weakness behind,” he told the audience in Tampa.

For now, the future of transgender service members in the U.S. military hangs in the balance, as both legal and political battles continue to unfold.