The Pentagon is ceasing gender-affirming healthcare for transgender troops as it moves to implement President Donald Trump’s plan to remove them from the US military, according to a memo seen by Reuters on Monday.
The instructions from the Defense Department barred any new hormone treatments as well as any surgical procedures for transgender troops, the memo stated.
“I am directing you to take the necessary steps to immediately implement this guidance,” Stephen Ferrara, the acting assistant secretary of defense for health affairs, said in the memo.
The Pentagon referred questions to the Defense Health Agency, which did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Shannon Minter of the National Center for Lesbian Rights described the abrupt termination of healthcare as “needlessly disrespectful and cruel.”
“It is shameful that our nation’s military would treat any service member this way,” Minter said.
One transgender service member, speaking on condition of anonymity out of fear of being targeted, called the decision “the latest slap in the face” to troops serving honorably.
“If there was any doubt left, there is not anymore: transgender service members are no longer entitled to the same standard of medical care as their peers,” the service member stated.
The US Supreme Court on May 6 permitted the Trump administration to implement its ban on transgender people in the military, allowing the armed forces to discharge the thousands of current transgender troops and reject new recruits while legal challenges proceed.
Reuters first reported last week a memo indicating that US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth issued instructions to begin removing transgender troops who do not elect to leave voluntarily by June 6.
There are 4,240 US active-duty and National Guard transgender troops, according to officials. Transgender rights advocates have provided higher estimates.
Trump signed an executive order in January, after returning to the presidency, that reversed a policy implemented under his predecessor Joe Biden which had allowed transgender troops to serve openly.
A Gallup poll published in February found that 58% of Americans favored allowing openly transgender individuals to serve in the military, but support had declined from 71% in 2019.
A former Fox News host, Hegseth has embraced conservative stances on culture war issues, including eliminating diversity initiatives at the Pentagon. Hegseth had made clear his opposition to gender-affirming care for transgender troops in a post on social media last month.
Re-posting an article that said the Pentagon would resume treatments for transgender troops, Hegseth said: “If this is true – we will find any way possible to stop it.”
“Taxpayers should NEVER pay for this lunacy,” Hegseth added.
