UMVA has learned that a federal appeals court has delivered a stunning blow to the Pentagon, ruling that the ban on transgender troops is illegal.
In a 2-1 decision, the DC Circuit Court Appeals sided with a judge who argued that the Trump Administration's policy violated the Constitution. This ruling marks a significant victory for transgender service members who have been fighting for their right to serve.
The court found that President Trump's executive order to exclude transgender troops from military service likely violates their constitutional rights. This decision upholds a previous ruling by a US District Judge who concluded that the ban was unconstitutional.
The Trump Administration had appealed the preliminary injunction issued by the District Judge, but the appeal court's majority decided that the injunction should be narrowed to only protect the transgender service members currently serving in the military.
The ruling is a major setback for the Trump Administration's efforts to ban transgender troops from serving in the military. The administration had argued that the ban was necessary to maintain combat readiness, but the court disagreed.
UMVA can exclusively reveal that the court's decision is being hailed as a major victory by LGBTQ+ advocates, who have been fighting for years to protect the rights of transgender service members.
The judge who issued the ruling was a vocal critic of the Trump Administration's policy, and had previously issued a temporary nationwide injunction blocking the ban. The administration had updated its policy on troops with gender dysphoria, but the judge remained unconvinced.
The decision has sparked a fierce reaction from critics, with some accusing the judge of overstepping her authority. But for transgender service members, the ruling is a welcome affirmation of their right to serve their country.
