Appeals court backs Hegseth on transgender military ban

Hegseth, earlier this year, imposed a sweeping ban on transgender military service as part of a broader effort to raise physical and mental standards in the service branches and to remove political elements from military culture.

Published: December 9, 2025 4:12pm

The U.S. Appeals Court for the D.C. Circuit on Tuesday sided with the Department of War in an ongoing dispute over the Pentagon's transgender ban.

The three-judge panel dissolved the lower court's order staying the ban, but did issue a stay pending appeal.

Hegseth, earlier this year, imposed a sweeping ban on transgender military service as part of a broader effort to raise physical and mental standards in the service branches and to remove political elements from military culture.

President Donald Trump's Department of Defense imposed a more limited ban in his first term.

Ben Whedon is the Chief Political Correspondent at Just the News. Follow him on X.

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