The Pentagon issued a memorandum on Thursday instructing U.S. military commanders to “immediately” screen military members for gender dysphoria as part of President Donald Trump’s ban on transgender individuals serving in the military.
In Thursday’s memorandum, which was issued by acting Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness Jules Hurst III, the Pentagon said, “In accordance with reference (j), the Secretaries of the Military Departments will direct unit commanders – working in coordination with supporting medical assets – to ensure Service members comply with their IMR program obligations1 and will immediately commence the identification of affected Service members.”
“Commanders who are aware of Service members in their units with gender dysphoria, a history of gender dysphoria, or symptoms consistent with gender dysphoria will direct individualized medical record reviews of such Service members to confirm compliance with medical standards under the [Individual Medical Readiness] program,” the memorandum added.
According to the Department of Defense, a senior defense official told reporters on Thursday that roughly 4,200 military members were previously estimated to have gender dysphoria. The senior defense official explained that active duty military members who voluntarily separate from the U.S. military have until June 7 to identify themselves, and reserve members have until July 7 to identify themselves.
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The Department of Defense explained that military members with gender dysphoria who voluntarily separate from the military will receive higher separation pay than individuals who are involuntarily removed from the military.
The senior defense official told reporters, “The department encourages currently serving service members that are impacted by the policy to elect to do the voluntary identification and voluntary separation process, which may afford certain benefits not available to those who go through the involuntary separation process.”
According to Thursday’s memorandum, U.S. military commanders are instructed to protect the privacy of military members’ medical records throughout the screening process and only disclose medical information to officials when it is “necessary for the conduct of official duties.” The Pentagon’s memorandum also noted that compliance reports will be required from each military branch by June 15.
In January, the 47th president signed an executive order to ban transgender individuals from serving in the U.S. military.
Trump’s executive order stated, “Consistent with the military mission and longstanding DoD policy, expressing a false ‘gender identity’ divergent from an individual’s sex cannot satisfy the rigorous standards necessary for military service.”
While the president’s executive order was delayed due to legal challenges, the Supreme Court upheld the Pentagon’s ban on transgender individuals last week by lifting a lower court order.
