Donald Trump and his administration are hellbent on identifying army members with gender dysphoria. A new memo issued by the army reveals a two-part plan that will ensure soldiers experiencing gender dysphoria are rooted out of the branch. Here’s everything you need to know about the government’s two-phase plan.
The US Army recently sent out a 14-page memo that detailed the new rules that would apply to transgender troops within the Army. A memo sent out by Army Secretary Daniel Driscoll, which was obtained by Fox News, revealed the army’s two-part plan to deal with the group.
The first phase of the plan urges soldiers who are experiencing or have in the past experienced gender dysphoria to identify themselves before June 6. The individuals who do decide to come forward will then be separated from the branch of the army.
The individual is required to notify their immediate commander who will then contact a superior. Depending on the number of years they have served in the army, they might be eligible to receive a voluntary separation pay. An army spokesperson revealed that in some cases the person might even be eligible to receive double the pay.
The individual will not be able to claim a separation pay if they haven’t served in the army for the required number of years. The soldier will be considered ineligible if they have an administrative action pending against them. A third case that deems a person ineligible is if they are facing Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ) code infractions.
🚨BREAKING: Trump’s DoD has implemented a policy requiring military commanders to identify transgender service members—or those diagnosed with gender dysphoria—and refer them for medical evaluations that could lead to their discharge from service.
Is this what you voted for? pic.twitter.com/VXjWcT1aXf
— MAGA Pulse🇺🇸 (@_MAGAPulse) May 16, 2025
An army spokesperson shared how an individual who opts for voluntary separation and does not qualify for the separation pay will be given afforded benefits. This would still mean them losing out on the separation pay.
The involuntary separation phase will start post June 6. According to a spokesperson “there will be means of identifying those who did not want to” after the second phase has started. The army who has access to every soldier’s records will be able to identify the members in phase 2.
BREAKING: Trump’s DoD has implemented a policy requiring military commanders to identify transgender service members—or those diagnosed with gender dysphoria—and refer them for medical evaluations that could lead to their discharge from service.
— Leading Report (@LeadingReport) May 16, 2025
The spokesperson noted how, regardless of the situation “shakes out,” all the members will be treated with “dignity and respect.” The memo that details all these guidelines is in accordance with Donald Trump’s new executive order. The President signed the order titled “Prioritizing Military Excellence and Readiness” on January 27.
Trump has been very vocal about his views towards members of the transgender community serving in the army. The President has previously noted that being a transgender soldier “conflicts with a soldier’s commitment to an honorable, truthful, and disciplined lifestyle.” He claimed that this, in turn, would hinder military preparedness.
