Executive Order 14183

It is part of a broader persecution of transgender people under the second Trump administration. On February 10, 2025, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth filed a memo with the U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C. stating that, effective immediately, no "individuals with a history of gender dysphoria" would be permitted to join the military, and no "medical procedures associated with affirming or facilitating a gender transition" would be provided to service members. A May 15 memo later detailed how trans service members would be discharged, saying that they would be given the discharge code of “JDK”, which is typically used to indicate that a soldier is considered a threat to national security, and which can prevent them from getting future jobs or security clearances. In August 2025, the United States Air Force announced that long-serving transgender members normally eligible for retirement benefits would be denied them. The order was challenged in a court filing, Talbott v. Trump, by six active duty transgender service members, and two prospective members, who sought a preliminary injunction. One of the active duty soldiers alleged that while on approved leave to receive medical care, he received a call saying that he would be considered AWOL if he did not return immediately. In a court hearing with US District Judge Ana C. Reyes, the plaintiffs were argued for by GLAD Senior Director of Transgender and Queer Rights Jennifer Levi; while the Department of Justice was represented by Jason Lynch.