The first openly gay U.S. District Judge, Ana Reyes, spent hours questioning the Trump administration to determine how its military transgender policy would affect trans service members.
Shortly after taking office on January 21, President Trump signed an executive order outlining “trans-identifying medical standards for military service” and rescinding policies that undermined the military’s readiness.
Trump’s “Prioritizing Military Excellence and Readiness” executive order required that the “radical gender ideology” be expunged from all branches of the military. On November 25, 2024, the Times reported that Trump would sign an executive order that would declare 15,000 transgender service members unfit to serve on medical grounds. The order would also remove transgender military leaders from various ranks.
Subsequently, a civil rights group sued the Trump administration over the executive order alleging discrimination. It also claims that the order threatened national security and obliterated years of defense training investment.
Thus, Biden appointed Judge Reyes questioned the Trump administration to determine whether the executive order amounted to transgender ban and whether the administration perceived transgenderism as an ideology. She also wanted to know if transgender people, including the plaintiffs, would be removed from the military or their units.
“Can we agree that