A federal appeals court ruled that portions of the Trump administration’s policy barring transgender individuals from military service violated the Constitution on Monday.
The three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals issued a 2-1 decision finding that key aspects of the policy lacked legal justification and appeared motivated by animus toward a politically unpopular group. The ruling marks the latest court challenge to the administration’s military recruitment restrictions.
What the Court Found
The appeals court determined that the policy, implemented under Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, went beyond disqualifying individuals with active gender dysphoria and included unexplained provisions with no reasonable basis. “The record shows that the purpose of the Hegseth Policy is to target applicants and servicemembers who express what the Administration believes is a ‘false gender identity,'” the decision stated.
The panel found the blanket restrictions arbitrary and not tailored to legitimate military readiness concerns. Judges noted that some disqualifications within the policy had no documented rationale.
The Current Status
Despite the court’s findings, the appeals panel allowed the ban on enlisting new transgender service members to remain in effect while legal challenges continue. The ruling opens the door to further appeals and potential Supreme Court review.
The decision adds to ongoing litigation surrounding military service eligibility policies. Multiple federal courts have examined similar restrictions in recent years.
This story has been updated. CNN’s staff contributed to this report.
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