Trump Asks Supreme Court to Reinstate Military Ban on Transgender Americans

White House says the policy would enhance unit cohesion and national security, but civil rights advocates call it discriminatory.

Photo by Diego González on Unsplash

President Trump’s administration has formally petitioned the Supreme Court to reinstate its ban on transgender individuals serving in the military.

SCOTUS Petition Revives a Familiar Fight

The White House argues the move is a matter of “military readiness,” citing a 2017 executive order rescinded under President Biden and reimposed this year after Trump’s return to office.

In an emergency filing, Solicitor General D. John Sauer asked the Supreme Court to let the ban take effect immediately, even as legal challenges continue in lower courts.

Sauer argued that waiting for the appeals process to play out could delay implementation by months—“a period far too long for the military to be forced to maintain a policy that it has determined, in its professional judgment, to be contrary to military readiness and the nation’s interests,” he wrote. (AP)

Legal Pushback Intensifies

Federal courts have blocked enforcement of Trump’s military ban in multiple jurisdictions.

In March, U.S. District Judge Benjamin Settle ruled in favor of several transgender personnel, calling the policy discriminatory and unsupported by evidence. He noted that removing them from service would cause "lasting damage to their careers and reputations.” (AP)

A separate ruling from Judge Ana Reyes in D.C. described the ban as “soaked in animus,” and another from New Jersey blocked the discharge of two transgender Air Force members, citing irreparable harm​​. (Newsweek)

The fight is now before the Supreme Court, where justices will weigh whether the administration can enforce the ban while lawsuits proceed.

What Does This Mean for Active-Duty Troops?

📬 In today’s Pro Brief, we look at what’s next for trans troops, examine the legal strategy behind the administration’s Supreme Court filing and what a ruling in Trump’s favor could mean for the military, civil rights law, and 2026 politics.

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