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A controversial ban on transgender individuals serving in the US military, announced by President Donald Trump in January 2025, has left thousands of service members in limbo, forcing many to confront difficult choices about their careers and identities. The policy, which reverses previous allowances for transgender personnel, has sparked legal challenges and widespread criticism for its perceived discrimination.
Major Kara Corcoran, a 39-year-old Army officer with 17 years of service, is among those affected. Just days before graduating from an elite military leadership programme at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, she was ordered to comply with male uniform and grooming standards, including cutting her long blonde hair, which she had grown since transitioning in 2018. "Nothing about me is a man, but we're going to force me into male regs just so I can walk across the stage with my peers," she told the BBC. Despite the personal toll, Corcoran remains defiant, refusing voluntary separation and awaiting potential involuntary discharge, which could strip her of benefits like pensions and healthcare. Lieutenant Rae Timberlake, a non-binary Navy officer with 17 years of service, has also been impacted. Anticipating the ban, Rae relocated their family from the West Coast to Maryland to be closer to support networks. Opting for voluntary retirement to retain some control over their future, Rae expects to lose a potential military pension worth approximately $2.5 million (£1.8m). "It’s competitive and daunting out there," Rae said of transitioning to civilian life, expressing a desire to live free from threats to their identity. The 2025 policy deems a history or diagnosis of gender dysphoria—a condition where a person’s gender identity differs from their birth sex—as "incompatible" with military service standards. It removes nearly all exceptions from a previous Trump-era ban, affecting an estimated 4,200 to 10,000 transgender service members. The Department of Defense has stated that those involuntarily separated may receive reduced benefits compared to voluntary departures, potentially costing individuals tens of thousands of dollars. Supporters of the ban, including former Navy SEAL Carl Higbie, argue that gender dysphoria and related treatments, such as hormone therapy, could compromise deployability. Higbie, now a Newsmax host, questioned why transgender individuals should be accommodated when other medical conditions disqualify service members. However, critics, including advocacy groups and some serving officers, argue the policy unfairly targets a vulnerable group. Three lawsuits challenging the ban’s legality have been filed, with a federal judge temporarily blocking it, though the Supreme Court allowed its enforcement in April 2025 pending further litigation. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, a Trump appointee, has defended the policy as part of a broader push to eliminate diversity, equity, and inclusion programmes, calling such initiatives distractions from "war-fighting." He recently ended the Women, Peace and Security programme, further signalling a shift in military priorities. For now, service members like Corcoran and Timberlake face an uncertain future. Corcoran has prepared for potential displacement by converting her car into a mobile home, while Timberlake navigates the challenges of civilian job hunting. Both express frustration at being judged not for their performance but for their identities. "This is about people who’ve dedicated their lives to service, now being told they’re no longer fit," Corcoran said. The Department of Defense declined to comment but reiterated its commitment to treating affected service members with dignity. As legal battles continue, the transgender military community remains in "survival mode," grappling with the personal and financial costs of a policy that has upended their careers.
