US to fast-track discharge of transgender troops – AP
The White House is planning to instruct senior military officials to identify people who are transgender or have gender dysphoria and make them undergo medical checks in a process which would lead to their dismissal from the armed services, the Associated Press reported on Thursday, citing senior defense officials.
The latest move comes amid a broader campaign to remove transgender service members from the American military, which US President Donald Trump launched shortly after his inauguration on January 20. Trump’s executive order declared that identifying as transgender “conflicts with a soldier’s commitment to an honorable, truthful, and disciplined lifestyle” and would hamper military preparedness.
The term “gender dysphoria” refers to psychological distress that results from an incongruence between one’s biological sex and one’s ‘gender identity’.
According to officials who spoke to the news agency on condition of anonymity, commanders who become aware of service members with gender dysphoria — whether current, historical, or symptomatic — would be required to initiate individualized reviews of their medical records.
The news comes a week after the Supreme Court ruled that the White House is allowed to enforce its ban on transgender individuals in the military while other legal challenges proceed.
Earlier this month, the Pentagon issued a directive enforcing the immediate removal of around 1,000 openly transgender service members from the military, giving those affected until June 6 to resign voluntarily or face discharge. The department added that they would receive roughly double the amount of separation pay compared to those who do not come forward.
