Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth ordered the Pentagon earlier this month to make major changes regarding medical waiver limitations for individuals with “severe underlying medical conditions.” The directive comes after President Donald Trump’s administration banned transgender troops from serving in the U.S. military earlier this year.
In a memorandum issued on July 11, Hegseth wrote, “America’s warfighters must be physically and mentally capable of performing their duties in the harshest of conditions. Severe underlying medical conditions introduce significant risks on the battlefield and threaten not only mission priorities, but also the health and safety of the affected individual and their fellow service members.”
Under the Pentagon’s new directive from Hegseth, individuals receiving treatment for schizophrenia, individuals with a history of paraphilic disorders, and individuals with congestive heart failure will no longer be eligible to receive a medical waiver to allow them to serve in the U.S. military. Additionally, individuals with organ transplants, multiple sclerosis, cystic fibrosis, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, epilepsy, chronic supplemental oxygen use, or a suicide attempt within 12 months will not be eligible for a medical accession waiver.
READ MORE: Video: Pentagon removing transgender troops from US military
In addition to the list of health conditions that will make individuals ineligible for waivers, Hegseth included a list of health conditions that will require waivers to be granted by a military branch secretary, such as a missing hand, foot, or eye, kidney disease, liver failure, past psychotic disorders, corneal transplants, an implanted defibrillator or pacemaker, and central nervous system shunts.
Hegseth’s memorandum also reiterated the Trump administration’s ban prohibiting individuals with gender dysphoria from serving in the military.
The secretary of defense stated, “The Department’s policy on gender dysphoria remains unchanged: applicants for Military Service having a current diagnosis or history of or exhibiting symptoms consistent with gender dysphoria would require an accession waiver from the Secretary of a Military Department.”
“Our high standards are a cornerstone of lethality, and the Department must remain vigilant in preserving those standards,” Hegseth added.
According to The Hill, the U.S. military has traditionally used waivers to allow young Americans with certain medical and conduct issues to enlist in the military. The outlet noted that Director of Military Accession Policy Katie Helland previously claimed that only 23% of young Americans are eligible to enlist in the U.S. military without a waiver.
