A federal judge indefinitely blocked President Donald Trump’s executive order banning transgender people from serving openly in the military, marking a significant setback for the administration’s efforts to limit transgender rights.
U.S. District Judge Ana Reyes ruled Tuesday that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and military officials cannot enforce the order, preserving the current policy that allows transgender service members. Reyes, a Biden appointee, criticized the administration for failing to provide evidence that transgender service members undermine military readiness.
Trump’s order, signed Jan. 27, claims transgender individuals threaten unit cohesion and military effectiveness—arguments previously used to bar racial minorities, women, and gay service members from serving. Reyes rejected that justification, stating, “Yes, the Court must defer [to the military]. But not blindly.”
The Justice Department vowed to appeal, but Reyes’ ruling could halt the ban indefinitely as legal challenges move forward.
Sources
Discover more from News Facts Network
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
