Pentagon Signs Directive Blocking Transgender People From Serving in Military

The Pentagon has reportedly signed a directive banning most transgender people from serving in the U.S. military unless they enlist under their birth gender. The policy, which takes effect in 30 days, states that any troops diagnosed with “gender dysphoria” after April 12 will be prohibited from taking hormones or undergoing transition surgery, according to the Associated Press. The directive also reportedly lays out guidelines for discharging troops if they are “unable or unwilling to adhere to all applicable standards, including the standards associated with his or her biological sex, or seeks transition to another gender.” The directive comes after a federal judge in Maryland lifted the final injunctions against Trump’s transgender military ban last week that had previously prevented the policy from going into effect. The Trump administration said it planned to put the policy into effect following the judge’s ruling.