Senate Democrats question Hegseth on Trump transgender military service ban
A group of Senate Democrats are asking Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth whether the Pentagon is complying with court orders temporarily blocking President Trump's ban on transgender service members from taking effect.
Trump signed the executive order, titled “Prioritizing Military Excellence and Readiness,” in late January. It prohibits transgender individuals from enlisting or continuing to serve in the military.
Hegseth subsequently issued a memo announcing a “pause” on transgender enlistment and encouraging current transgender service members “to elect to separate voluntarily no later than March 26, 2025.”
Ahead of that deadline, two federal judges issued preliminary injunctions halting the implementation of the executive order.
In a letter Tuesday, 14 senators wrote to Hegseth to “to express our expectation” that the Defense Department comply with the injunctions issued in March and to request answers to a series of questions related to the policy.
They asked the secretary what steps have been taken to comply with the injunction and how much taxpayer money will be spent on excluding transgender troops — including on legal defenses for the policy, training for transgender individuals they now plan on terminating, and on administrative costs associated with implementing the policy.
The Democrats also asked whether anyone was “prematurely dismissed due to the EO and planned policy implementations” and for a commitment to provide necessary health care to transgender service members, along with a commitment to ensure transgender individuals can continue to serve without facing stigma or backlash.
“As the Secretary of Defense, you are ultimately responsible for ensuring the United States maintains a strong and capable fighting force that will keep Americans safe. This harmful EO negatively impacts national security and undermines your oath of office,” they wrote in the letter.
They criticized the policy broadly as unpatriotic and counter to the country’s national security interests.
“Denying any servicemember who has met the qualifications to serve our Nation the right to serve based on ideological grounds is inherently un-American and jeopardizes our national security. This administration’s animus towards transgender heroes prioritizes a manufactured culture war over military excellence and readiness and is a purge of brave servicemembers who protect our freedoms,” they added.
The Democrats who signed the letter are: Sens. John Fetterman (Pa.), Tammy Duckworth (Ill.), Tammy Baldwin (Wis.), Cory Booker (N.J.), Kirsten Gillibrand (N.Y.), Mazie Hirono (Hawaii), Andy Kim (N.J.), Ed Markey (Mass.), Jeff Merkley (Ore.), Brian Schatz (Hawaii), Chris Van Hollen (Md.), Elizabeth Warren (Mass.), Sheldon Whitehouse (R.I.) and Ron Wyden (Ore).