A federal judge has temporarily blocked a Defense Department policy that would have barred transgender individuals from serving in the U.S. military. U.S. District Judge Ana Reyes granted a preliminary injunction in favor of transgender active-duty service members and those in the process of enlisting. This decision halts the implementation of President Trump’s executive order, which prohibited transgender individuals from military service. The ruling also applies to additional guidance from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth enforcing the ban. However, Reyes delayed the order’s effect until March 21 to allow the Justice Department time to seek emergency relief from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit.
Reyes, a Biden appointee, issued her ruling after extensive hearings where she questioned Justice Department attorneys about the Defense Department’s justification for the ban. She emphasized that transgender service members have made sacrifices for their country, yet the policy denies them equal rights. In her 79-page decision, she underscored that equality applies to all individuals without exception.
Jennifer Levi, senior director of transgender and queer rights at GLAD Law and a lead attorney in the case, described the ruling as decisive. She asserted that the court’s findings highlight how the ban targets and undermines dedicated service members, expressing confidence that the decision will stand on appeal.
A Justice Department spokesperson criticized the ruling, calling it an example of judicial overreach and an attempt to undermine the authority of an elected president.
The policy originated from an executive order issued by Trump in late January, instructing Hegseth to implement service restrictions based on troop readiness. The order
