In a significant shift in policy, the US Army announced on Saturday, February 15, 2025, that it will no longer permit transgender individuals to join the American military. Additionally, it will stop ‘performing or facilitating procedures associated with gender transformation for service members.’ This decision, which takes effect immediately, comes in a series of posts on micro-blogging platform X and has drawn significant attention towards US military policies and gender rights.

The US Army in a statement on X said, “Effective immediately, all new accessions for individuals with a history of gender dysphoria are paused, and all unscheduled, scheduled, or planned medical procedures associated with affirming or facilitating a gender transition for Service members are paused.” They further remarked that people with gender dysphoria have volunteered to serve the country and will continue to be treated with dignity and respect.

The US military’s move comes after President Donald Trump on January 27, 2025, announced that he had signed four executive orders aimed at reshaping the military. Among the orders was a ban on transgender service members from enlisting in the US Army.

During his first administration in 2017, Trump banned transgender Americans from joining the armed forces, however, this order was overturned by former US President Joe Biden in 2021. With Trump’s return to office on January 20, 2025, the order has been reinstated again.