The Trump administration is pushing to ban transgender service members but admits it doesn’t even know how many are currently serving. In a court filing, government lawyers acknowledged the Pentagon does not track troops by gender identity, relying instead on a 2016 RAND study with outdated estimates.
The case, Talbott v. Trump, challenges Trump’s ban, which LGBTQ groups argue is based on discrimination, not data. Officials claim trans troops threaten cohesion and integrity but fail to cite any evidence. They also argue gender-affirming care is costly, yet records show the Pentagon spent just $52 million in nearly a decade—an insignificant fraction of the military budget. Lambda Legal CEO Kevin Jennings slammed the administration’s stance, saying, “This proves that this order is motivated by animus rather than reason.”
Meanwhile, the Justice Department is attacking the judge overseeing the case, filing a misconduct complaint. Yet, military leaders and queer advocates insist trans service members strengthen the military, not weaken it. Judge Ana Reyes will hear arguments on March 12 as advocacy groups fight for an injunction to block the ban.
