07-05-2025
Service members face uncertainty after Supreme Court allows Trump to enforce transgender military ban
WASHINGTON (DC News Now) — The U.S. Supreme Court ruled Tuesday that the Trump administration can now enforce its transgender military ban. It comes after months of litigation, but the fight isn't over yet.
Active duty members and veterans told DC News Now the news is devastating, but they'll continue doing their jobs until they're told otherwise.
The Trump administration has said that having transgender troops is harmful to military readiness.
Trump asks Supreme Court to allow ban on transgender members of the military to take effect, for now
In late February, the Department of Defense said transgender service members were to be removed within 60 days, in line with President Trump's executive order. Multiple court cases delayed that until Tuesday.
'When the Supreme Court ruled, I and thousands of other transgender service members were doing our duty,' said Space Force Col. Bree Fram. 'I was helping define the future of our military's capability in space. And thousands of others were doing exactly what this government has asked of them.'
Fram spoke with DC News Now in her personal capacity and stated that her views do not necessarily reflect those of the Department of Defense or the U.S. government.
'We feel a bit unwanted, despite years of service and dedication to this nation, where we have succeeded based on our merits,' Fram said.
Lindsay Church, a transgender Navy veteran and executive director of Minority Veterans of America, said it's causing a lot of distress for trans service members.
'People don't know where they're going to live, whether or not they're going to have a job, whether or not they're going to have health care,' Church said.
Church said lower court rulings have shown the ban isn't about merit.
'If you can't find cases or reasons why transgender service members should be kicked out, you have to go into their medical records, it goes to prove a point that transgender service members are not a detraction or a distraction from our military readiness,' Church said.
PREVIOUS COVERAGE: 'They are so incredibly resilient and capable': Transgender col. pushes back on Pentagon order to remove transgender troops
Fram said the policy will cause real harm while court cases play out.
'It's a struggle to figure out — how do we move forward? But we are going to and until we can't, we're going to put on the uniform and accomplish the mission,' Fram said. 'I have served my nation in uniform for over 22 years. I do not plan for that service to end, whether in uniform or not.'
The Department of Defense said Tuesday that officials are currently determining the next steps.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth posted on X Tuesday, 'No More Trans @ DoD.'
During a speech before the ruling, he said, 'We are leaving wokeness and weakness behind. No more pronouns, no more climate change obsession, no more emergency vaccine mandates, no more dudes in dresses. We're done with that s—.'
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