Transgender service members file lawsuit against Trump's military ban

Transgender service members, backed by LGBTQ advocacy groups, have filed a lawsuit against a recent executive order issued by President Donald Trump that bans transgender individuals from serving in the military. Signed late Monday, the order reverses policies established under the Biden administration, which had allowed transgender troops to serve openly in alignment with their gender identity.

The order claims that the assertion of a transgender identity is a "falsehood … not consistent with the humility and selflessness required of a service member." It directs Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth to overhaul military standards and declare that transgender status is incompatible with the high standards of service.

Space Force Colonel Bree Fram, a transgender woman who transitioned while serving, expressed deep concerns over the impact of the order. Speaking in her personal capacity, she told ABC News that banning transgender troops would inflict "collective harm to our national security."

"Transgender troops are meeting or exceeding the high standards the military has set for performance," Fram stated. "They're serving at home and abroad in every branch and specialty."

The lawsuit, filed Tuesday by plaintiffs represented by GLBTQ Legal Advocates & Defenders and the National Center for Lesbian Rights, challenges the order’s legality. Sasha Buchert, a senior attorney at Lambda Legal who previously helped block a similar ban in 2017, described the new order as "cruel" and a direct threat to national security.

"This order forces transgender service members to constantly look over their shoulders," Buchert said. "It stamps them with a badge of inferiority and compromises their careers and futures."

Buchert further stated that Lambda Legal and the Human Rights Campaign plan to file additional lawsuits to challenge the policy.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, on his first day in office, also signed an order to dissolve diversity, equity, and inclusion programs within the Department of Defense. The Pentagon, in a statement to ABC News, said it would "fully execute and implement all directives outlined" in presidential executive orders.

Although the order does not explicitly mention transgender individuals, it mandates revisions to medical standards regarding gender dysphoria—a condition often linked to transition-related care. According to a Defense official, 4,240 currently serving military personnel have been diagnosed with gender dysphoria. Over the past decade, approximately 5,773 service members received this diagnosis, with about 3,200 undergoing hormone therapy and 1,000 receiving gender-affirming surgery. The total cost for gender-affirming treatments over the last decade amounted to $52 million, averaging $5 million per year.

Trump, during his campaign, pledged to end what he called "transgender insanity" in the military. His order asserts that policies must prioritize "unit cohesion" and eliminate ideologies deemed harmful to military effectiveness.

Many military officials and veterans argue that transgender service members have already proven their ability to serve effectively. Cassie Byard, a Navy veteran who served alongside a transgender colleague, said she "never saw any adverse effect on readiness or cohesion."

Colonel Fram emphasized that openness about her identity has strengthened her unit’s teamwork and morale. "Being authentic builds the strong bonds of teamwork we need to succeed," she said. "Everyone should be able to bring their best self to work."

With a two-month implementation window, transgender troops now face an uncertain future. Fram remains committed to her duties despite the looming policy changes.

"Our job is to lace up our boots, get to work, and accomplish the mission we’ve been given," she said. "We swore an oath to support the Constitution, and we will continue to do so unless told otherwise."

As legal battles unfold, the fate of thousands of transgender service members remains in question. Advocates vow to fight back, ensuring that those who have dedicated their lives to military service are not unjustly forced out.