Published Sep 8, 2026, 9:00 AM EDT
Medical and personnel records with current or past diagnoses of gender dysphoria are being used as the DOD moves to separate transgender troops.
The Pentagon is using military medical and personnel records to identify service members with current or past diagnoses of gender dysphoria as it moves to separate transgender troops under the Trump administration's ban, according to a Federal News Network investigation published Monday. The effort has led commanders across the military to receive notices identifying troops in their units who may fall under the policy and directing them to begin the separation process, per the report. The outlet cited multiple service members, advocates and internal military documents. An internal Air Force email obtained by Federal News Network said the Office of the Secretary of Defense had identified service members "who may have a current diagnosis or history of or exhibit symptoms consistent with gender dysphoria in their electronic healthcare record." The Pentagon, Defense Health Agency and individual military services declined to answer Federal News Network's questions about the process, citing ongoing litigation.
The US Department of Defense building is known by the metonym "The Pentagon" due to its shape. DoD photo by Master Sgt. Ken Hammond, U.S. Air Force, Wikimedia Commons
