Pentagon stopping gender transition treatment for transgender troops

The Pentagon is ending gender transition rehabilitation for transgender troops according to a new memo as functionaries move to enforce President Donald Trump's plan to boot transgender troops out of the U S military Under the instructions the Defense Department is prohibiting any new hormone treatments or surgical procedures for transgender troops according to the memo Reuters broadcasted I am directing you to take the necessary policies to directly implement this guidance Acting Assistant Secretary of Defense for Wellbeing Affairs Stephen Ferrara wrote in the memo HEGSETH ORDERS DEADLINE FOR TRANS INSTITUTION MEMBERS TO LEAVE MILITARY 'OUT AT THE DOD'One transgender facility member described the move as the latest slap in the face to honorably serving troops If there was any doubt left there is not anymore transgender facility members are no longer entitled to the same standard of healthcare care as their peers the organization member notified Reuters speaking on condition of anonymity out of fear of being targeted Last month Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth expressed his opposition to gender transition recovery for transgender troops when he re-posted an article on X that mentioned the Pentagon would resume treatments for transgender troops and their dependents BIPARTISAN BILL WOULD MAKE IT EASIER FOR MILITARY RECRUITS WITH PHYSIOLOGICAL ISSUES TO LAND DEFENSE JOBS If this is true - we will find any way practicable to stop it Hegseth wrote Taxpayers should NEVER pay for this lunacy Since being approved as Pentagon chief Hegseth has embraced efforts to eliminate diversity initiatives particularly those applying to transgender troops Last week the U S Supreme Court gave the green light for the Trump administration to implement its ban on transgender troops in the military allowing the Defense Department to discharge thousands of current transgender troops and deny new recruits as legal challenges against the move continue to play out in court A memo distributed last week revealed that Hegseth issued instructions to begin kicking out transgender troops who do not voluntarily leave by June Trump had signed an executive order in January shortly after returning to the White House that reversed a Biden administration framework that had allowed transgender troops to serve Executives have noted there are U S active-duty and National Guard transgender troops although particular transgender rights advocates say the number may be even higher Reuters contributed to this account