Appeals Court Rules Transgender Military Ban Illegal

A divided panel of federal appeals court judges ruled that a Donald Trump>>> administration policy illegally banned transgender troops from military service. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit largely upheld a March 2025 ruling by U.S. District Judge Ana Reyes>>> in Washington, D.C., who concluded that Donald Trump>>>'s executive order likely violates constitutional rights. The administration appealed after Ana Reyes>>> issued a preliminary injunction. The appeals court's majority decided that the injunction should be narrowed to the plaintiffs currently serving in the military but not those seeking to join. The ruling won't immediately go into effect, allowing the administration time to ask the full appeals court to hear the case. The United States — Supreme Court of the United States>>> had previously allowed the transgender military ban to go into effect last year as litigation continues. In January 2025, Donald Trump>>> signed an executive order claiming that the sexual identity of transgender service members conflicts with military readiness. In response, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth>>> issued a policy presumptively disqualifying people with gender dysphoria from military service. Judge Robert Wilkins>>> wrote for the majority, stating the policy appears driven by a desire to harm a politically unpopular group. Judge Justin Walker>>> dissented, arguing judges lack the power to second-guess military decisions. Judge Judith W. Rogers>>> joined Robert Wilkins>>>' opinion but partially dissented.