Robert Besser
26 May 2025, 06:44 GMT+10
WASHINGTON, D.C.: The U.S. Army plans to change the records of transgender soldiers to list only their sex at birth, according to a memo seen by Reuters. This is part of a broader effort to remove transgender people from military service.
The memo says Army leaders must quickly update all records and systems to show only a person's biological sex, which it defines as unchangeable. Pronouns and titles like "sir" or "ma'am" must match the sex assigned at birth. Access to bathrooms and other private areas will also be based on biological sex.
This move follows a recent Supreme Court decision that lets the Pentagon ban transgender people from serving in the military. Earlier this month, Reuters reported that the Pentagon plans to remove transgender troops who don't choose to leave voluntarily by June 6. It also plans to stop offering gender-affirming healthcare.
The Army has yet to respond to questions about the memo. The document also says the Army's Human Resources Command will handle the changes, including updating pronouns and rules about personal spaces.
There are about 4,240 active-duty and National Guard transgender service members, though advocates believe the real number is higher.
Jennifer Levi, a leader at the LGBTQ legal group GLAD, called the new policies harsh and disorganized. She said they hurt military readiness.
President Trump signed an order in January reversing a policy from his predecessor, Joe Biden, that had allowed transgender people to serve openly. A recent Gallup poll found that 58 percent of Americans support transgender people serving in the military, down from 71 percent in 2019.
Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, a former Fox News host and strong supporter of conservative policies, supports removing diversity programs from the military.
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