The United States Army has announced an immediate ban on transgender individuals joining its ranks while also halting gender transition-related medical procedures for current service members. The new policy, shared on the Army’s official X account on February 14, aligns with an executive order signed by President Donald Trump on January 27. This directive mandates that the military adhere strictly to individuals’ biological sex, effectively eliminating considerations of gender identity within the armed forces.

The announcement marks a significant shift in policy, overturning previous efforts to accommodate transgender personnel. “Effective immediately, all new accessions for individuals with a history of gender dysphoria are paused, and all unscheduled, scheduled, or planned medical procedures associated with affirming or facilitating a gender transition for service members are paused,” the Army declared in its official statement.

Trump first banned transgender individuals from serving in the military in 2017, arguing that their inclusion posed a financial and logistical burden. His policy was met with widespread opposition from LGBTQ advocacy groups and was subsequently repealed by former President Joe Biden upon taking office in 2021. Biden’s reversal allowed transgender individuals to serve openly and receive medical treatment related to their gender identity at the military’s expense.

However, since returning to office, Trump has moved swiftly to roll back a broad range of policies enacted by his predecessor, particularly those related to racial equity and LGBTQ rights. His latest executive order officially recognizes only two genders-male and female-stating that these designations cannot be........

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