The Pentagon is implementing plans for President Donald Trump to drive them out of the U.S. military to stop transgender forces’ gender health care.
The memorandum said the Department of Defense directives prohibit any new hormone treatments and any surgical procedures for trans forces.
"I instruct you to take the necessary steps to implement this guidance immediately," Acting Assistant Assistant Minister for Health Affairs Stephen Ferrara said in the memorandum.
The Pentagon forwarded the issue to the defense and health agency, which did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Shannon Minter of the National Center for Lesbian Rights said the sudden termination of health care was "unnecessary disrespect and cruelty."
"It's shameful that our country's military will treat any service members this way," Minter said.
A trans service member who spoke out on the condition of anonymity, called the decision “the latest slap in the face to face” to serve gloriously.
“If there is no doubt that the rest is no longer there: Trans service members will no longer be entitled to the same health care standards as their peers,” the service member said.
The U.S. Supreme Court on May 6 allowed Trump's administration to impose his ban on trans people in the military, allowing the armed forces to evacuate thousands of incumbent trans forces and reject recruits while challenging the legal challenges.
Reuters first reported last week that a memo showed U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth issued instructions to start kicking out transgender troops who were not selected to leave alone by June 6.
Officials said there are 4,240 active and transgender U.S. troops in the National Guard. Trans rights advocates give higher estimates.
Trump signed an executive order in January after returning to the presidency that overturned a policy implemented by his predecessor, Joe Biden, that allows transgender forces to serve publicly.
A Gallup poll published in February found that 58% of Americans favor allowing openly transgender people to serve in the military, but support fell 71% in 2019.
Hegseth is a former Fox News host who has conservative stance on cultural war issues, including the Pentagon’s diversity initiative. Hegseth made clear his opposition to gender care for trans forces in a social media post last month.
Hegseth re-wrote an article saying the Pentagon will restore treatments for trans troops: "If that's true - we'll find any way that might stop it."
"Taxpayers should never pay the price for this madness," Hegseth added.