A federal appeals court ruled on June 1, 2026, against the Trump administration's policy prohibiting transgender individuals from serving in the military. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit found, in a 2-1 decision, that the Department of War's January 2025 policy, which deemed individuals with gender dysphoria unfit for military service, was unlawful. The ruling specifically applies to current transgender service members involved in the lawsuit, while the policy remains in effect for those seeking to join the military.
U.S. Circuit Judge Robert Wilkins stated that the government did not provide a factual basis for its negative characterizations of transgender individuals and noted that the plaintiffs had served honorably. He described the policy as arbitrary and motivated by a desire to harm a politically unpopular group, violating the constitutional right to equal protection.
Judge Judith Rogers concurred, suggesting that the policy should also be halted for transgender individuals seeking to join the military. The dissenting opinion from Judge Justin Walker argued that the court should defer to the executive branch on military personnel decisions and criticized the majority for intervening in what he viewed as a matter for Congress and the executive branch.
The ruling can be appealed to the full bench of the D.C. Circuit or the Supreme Court, and the Justice Department is expected to appeal the decision.
