E. Barrett Prettyman U.S. Courthouse

An appeals court ruled that President Donald Trump's transgender military ban, implemented via an executive order in January 2025, violates constitutional equal protection rights due to being 'driven by the bare desire to harm' transgender individuals. The 2-1 decision upheld a lower court's preliminary injunction allowing case plaintiffs to continue service, though the ruling does not universally apply to all transgender service members or those seeking enlistment. Judge Justin R. Walker dissented, arguing the military has unique authority over its members.

A federal appeals court ruled that a Trump administration policy banning transgender military members from service violates constitutional equal protection rights, allowing involved plaintiffs to continue serving. The 2-1 decision found the policy arbitrary and based on animus, though it does not universally apply to all transgender service members or those seeking enlistment.

A federal appeals court ruled that a Trump-era policy banning transgender military members from service violates constitutional equal protection rights, allowing plaintiffs to continue serving temporarily. The 2-1 decision criticized the policy as arbitrary and driven by animus toward transgender individuals, though it does not universally apply to all transgender service members or those seeking enlistment.