Pentagon Policy on Transgender Troops Ruled Illegal by Appeals Court
A federal appeals court panel has ruled that a Pentagon policy banning transgender individuals from military service is illegal. The decision, made by a divided three-judge panel from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, found that the Trump administration's policy was designed to exclude people based on their gender identity. The ruling partially upholds a previous decision by U.S. District Judge Ana Reyes, who concluded that the policy likely violates constitutional rights. The ban, however, remains in effect as the U.S. Supreme Court had previously allowed its enforcement. The appeals court's decision prevents the military from discharging current service members involved in the lawsuit but does not permit new transgender recruits to join. The ruling is on hold to allow the administration to seek further review. 
