Appeals Court Rules Pentagon's Transgender Troop Ban Illegal, Citing Constitutional Violations
A federal appeals court panel has ruled that the Pentagon's 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 policy discriminates based on gender identity. The ruling partially upholds a previous decision by U.S. District Judge Ana Reyes, who argued that the ban likely violates constitutional rights. While the ban remains in effect, the ruling prevents the military from discharging current transgender service members involved in the lawsuit. The decision is on hold to allow the administration to seek further review, and an appeal to the Supreme Court is anticipated. 
