Trans ban: We served in the military. Trump has no idea how much damage he’s done to it.

We Served in the Military. Trump Has No Idea How Much Damage He’s Just Done to It.

The trans ban isn’t just immoral. It’s logistical nonsense.
By Timothy Soseki Kudo, Lindsey Melki, and Kenneth Zavada, Feb 12, 2025 5:40 AM

President Donald Trump’s executive order banning trans people from serving openly in the military states: “The United States military has a clear mission: to protect the American people and our homeland as the world’s most lethal and effective fighting force. Success in this existential mission requires a singular focus on developing the requisite warrior ethos, and the pursuit of military excellence cannot be diluted to accommodate political agendas or other ideologies harmful to unit cohesion.”

However, as military veterans, we know that this order will accomplish exactly the opposite. When it’s 5 degrees out and expected to drop, and it’s you and your battle buddy’s turn on night watch to share a sleeping bag in the snow-covered mudhole the two of you have spent the past 12 hours digging, the last thing on anyone’s mind is gender or sex. In those moments, all that matters is a person’s character and the mutual trust that comes from living and training together until you’re certain you have each other’s back.

Excluding people who can meet rigorous service standards simply because of who they are is a fundamental attack on this principle, which has formed the bedrock of military service since the inception of the republic.

Already, lawsuits have been filed challenging the order on behalf of six trans people currently serving across services and ranks, as well as two recruits seeking to enlist. But we need not wait for a court ruling to tell us what we already know: This policy is immoral, is unconstitutional, and should be immediately rescinded.

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