Trump Admin Asks Supreme Court To Let It Enforce Transgender Military Ban

The Trump administration asked the Supreme Court on Thursday to let it enforce a ban on transgender individuals in the military.

The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals declined to pause a lower court ruling on Friday that blocked the ban from taking effect.

“In this case, the district court issued a universal injunction usurping the Executive Branch’s authority to determine who may serve in the Nation’s armed forces—despite this Court previously staying injunctions against a materially indistinguishable policy,” the administration’s application states.

If the Supreme Court does not halt the lower court’s injunction, it will stay in place for “a period far too long for the military to be forced to maintain a policy that it has determined, in its professional judgment, to be contrary to military readiness and the Nation’s interests,” they argued. (RELATED: Biden-Appointed Judge Blocking Transgender Military Ban Used To Be Anti-Trump Legal Activist)

The Supreme Court requested a response to the government’s request by 5 p.m. on May 1.

BREAKING: The Trump administration is asking the Supreme Court to let it enforce its transgender military ban. pic.twitter.com/6f7Ar6Mpog

— Katelynn Richardson (@katesrichardson) April 24, 2025

Judge Benjamin H. Settle, a George W. Bush appointee in the Western District of Washington, blocked the ban March 27, finding transgender service members and an activist group that challenged the ban were likely to succeed on their claims.

“Because the military has operated smoothly for four years under the Austin Policy, any claimed hardship it may face in the meantime pales in comparison to the hardships imposed on transgender service members and otherwise qualified transgender accession candidates, tipping the balance of hardships sharply toward plaintiffs,” Settle wrote. “There can be few matters of greater public interest in this country than protecting the constitutional rights of its citizens.”

All content created by the Daily Caller News Foundation, an independent and nonpartisan newswire service, is available without charge to any legitimate news publisher that can provide a large audience. All republished articles must include our logo, our reporter’s byline and their DCNF affiliation. For any questions about our guidelines or partnering with us, please contact [email protected].