Payam Javan: A federal judge has issued a preliminary injunction against former President Donald Trump’s executive order that sought to exclude individuals with a gender identity inconsistent with their sex from military service. U.S. District Judge Ana Reyes ruled in favor of a group of transgender active-duty service members, stating that the order likely violates their constitutional rights and could cause irreparable harm. In her 79-page ruling, Reyes highlighted the contributions of transgender service members, emphasizing that they have risked their lives to defend the same equal protection rights the policy seeks to deny. The injunction will be stayed until March 21, giving the administration time to appeal.

The ruling was met with praise from legal advocates, including Jennifer Levi of GLAD Law, who described it as a decisive rejection of a policy that undermines committed service members. The plaintiffs, which include 20 active-duty members and transgender individuals seeking enlistment, argue that the ban is unconstitutional and based on bias rather than legitimate military concerns. Attorneys general from 20 states have also supported the legal challenge, stating that the ban harms national security. The Trump administration’s order, issued on Jan. 27, cited concerns about unit cohesion, medical constraints, and military discipline, directing the Pentagon to implement new policies for identifying and separating affected personnel.