• The Pentagon will start removing up to 1,000 transgender troops from military service.
• Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth issued a memo giving troops until June 6 for voluntary separation.
• The directive comes after a Supreme Court ruling allowing enforcement of a previous ban.
• Medical records will be reviewed to identify and remove additional personnel diagnosed with gender dysphoria.
• This move marks a return to the Trump administration's policy on transgender military service.

The Pentagon has initiated the removal of up to 1,000 transgender service members, as outlined in a memo from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. Those who openly identify as transgender are required to voluntarily separate from the military by June 6; for reserve forces, the deadline is July 7, according to Reuters and India Times.

This decision follows a Supreme Court ruling that empowers the Trump administration to enforce a ban on transgender individuals serving in the military. Hegseth indicated that those diagnosed with gender dysphoria will face involuntary separation, with the policy being described as a move away from what he termed "wokeness and weakness," as reported by The Hill and AA.

According to Pentagon officials, medical records will help identify personnel who haven't voluntarily disclosed their status. As of December 2024, approximately 4,240 military personnel were reported to have been diagnosed with gender dysphoria, although advocates suggest that this number is likely higher due to underreporting, as noted by Le Monde and India Times.