Payam Javan: Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has issued a directive pausing all transgender-related medical procedures for military personnel. In a memorandum dated February 7 and made public on February 10, Hegseth ordered the suspension of all “unscheduled, scheduled, or planned medical procedures associated with affirming or facilitating a gender transition for service members.” Additionally, the memo prohibits new enlistments for individuals with a history of gender dysphoria, effective immediately.

Hegseth justified the decision by emphasizing the need for a unified military force, stating that efforts to divide troops along identity lines weaken national defense. He referenced President Donald Trump’s executive order restricting openly transgender individuals from serving in the military. The order argues that military excellence must not be compromised to accommodate political agendas and asserts that the armed forces have been unduly influenced by radical gender ideology. According to the directive, individuals who identify as a gender different from their birth sex do not meet the military’s service standards.