Appeals Court Rules Pentagon Policy Illegally Banned Transgender Troops, Affecting Military Service
A federal appeals court panel has ruled that a Pentagon policy under President Trump's administration, which banned transgender individuals from military service, was illegal. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit's decision largely upholds a previous ruling by U.S. District Judge Ana Reyes, who found that the executive order likely violated constitutional rights. The policy, which was implemented in January 2025, claimed that transgender service members' sexual identity conflicted with military readiness. The court's decision allows the ban to remain in effect temporarily, as the administration may appeal. The ruling applies to current service members but not to those seeking to enlist. 
