Washington, D.C. – The U.S. military services have been given a 30-day deadline to implement procedures in order to identify and remove transgender service members from their ranks. This directive comes as a response to a lawsuit challenging the previous executive order signed by former President Donald Trump, which aimed to ban transgender individuals from serving in the military.

According to a memo sent to Defense Department leaders, the services have until March 26 to establish protocols for identifying troops diagnosed with gender dysphoria. These individuals will then be removed from service within the following 30 days. The task of identifying transgender service members may involve self-reporting or possible disclosures by fellow troops.

The Pentagon estimates that there are currently around 4,200 active duty, National Guard, and Reserves members diagnosed with gender dysphoria. The total cost of treatments such as psychotherapy, hormone therapy, and surgery for transgender service members is reported to be approximately $52 million between 2015 and 2024.

Critics of the recent directive argue that transitioning individuals may face challenges in meeting the rigorous mental and physical standards required for military service. The policy asserts that gender is “immutable” and undergoes no changes throughout a person’s life, posing a conflict with the transitioning process for transgender individuals.

Advocates for transgender service members express concerns about the new policy’s impact on individuals’ privacy and their safety within the military. Sarah Warbelow, from the Human Rights Campaign, highlights the dilemma faced by transgender troops who may feel pressured to disclose their identities or face possible penalties for not doing so.

U.S. officials reveal preliminary estimates indicating that there could be about 600 transgender troops in the Navy, 300 to 500 in the Army, and fewer than 50 in the Marine Corps. These numbers are subject to change as more individuals are identified through documented medical treatments.

The new Pentagon policy offers exceptions for transgender individuals who can demonstrate their support for warfighting activities on a case-by-case basis. It also permits existing service members diagnosed with gender dysphoria to remain if they can prove they support specific warfighting needs without undergoing gender transition over an extended period. Gender dysphoria arises when an individual’s biological sex does not align with their gender identity.

Despite the recent policy changes, ongoing court cases and potential legal challenges may affect the implementation and enforcement of the directive. The issue of transgender troops serving in the military has been a contentious one, with former President Joe Biden overturning Trump’s ban on transgender individuals in the armed forces upon taking office.