Pentagon releases guidance on trans military ban, seeks to lift court order

Main Idea: The Pentagon issued new guidance to enforce President Donald Trump’s ban on transgender military service and asked a federal judge to lift her order blocking it.

Key Points:

• The Defense Department said it will review service members’ medical records and use self-assessment forms within 45 days.
• It will look for a current diagnosis, history, or symptoms of gender dysphoria to decide who is ineligible to serve.
• The guidance says the ban applies only to cases with marked incongruence and serious distress or impairment for at least six months.
• The Justice Department asked Judge Ana Reyes to end her block on the policy, arguing the rule is based on a medical diagnosis, not transgender identity.