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Trump Just Asked the Supreme Court to Back One of His Cruelest Policies

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01.09.2026

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The Trump administration asked the Supreme Court on Friday to take up the constitutionality of its restrictions on transgender people serving in the military, seeking to reverse a lower-court ruling that continues to protect current service members challenging the policy from discharge.

The case, Talbott v. United States, stems from an executive order President Donald Trump issued days after returning to office in January 2025. The order declared that people whose gender identity differs from their sex cannot meet the standards of “honesty,” “humility,” and “integrity” required for military service. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth followed with a policy that generally disqualifies people with gender dysphoria, a history of the condition, or a history of certain treatments associated with gender transition. Waivers exist, but only under exceedingly narrow conditions.

A group of transgender service members and prospective recruits challenged the policy under the Constitution’s guarantee of equal protection. In March 2025, U.S. District Judge Ana........

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