Washington, DC [US], February 15 (HBTV): The US Army has announced that it will no longer allow transgender individuals to enlist in the military and will cease facilitating procedures related to gender transition for service members.

In a statement shared on X, the US Army said the decision takes immediate effect, halting all new accessions for individuals with a history of gender dysphoria and pausing all medical procedures associated with affirming or facilitating a gender transition.

In a series of posts, the US Army wrote, ‘The #USArmy will no longer allow transgender individuals to join the military and will stop performing or facilitating procedures associated with gender transition for service members. Stay tuned for more details.’

It further stated, ‘Effective immediately, all new accessions for individuals with a history of gender dysphoria are paused, and all unscheduled, scheduled, or planned medical procedures associated with affirming or facilitating a gender transition for service members are paused.’

The announcement follows US President Donald Trump's decision last month to sign four executive orders reshaping the military, including reinstating a ban on transgender individuals serving in the armed forces.

On January 27, Trump signed the orders while aboard Air Force One, traveling from Florida to Washington. Among other provisions, the executive actions also reinstated, with back pay, troops who had been discharged for refusing COVID-19 vaccinations, CNN reported.

During his first administration in 2017, Trump had imposed a similar ban on transgender service members. However, in 2021, former US President Joe Biden repealed the policy, allowing transgender individuals to serve openly. Hours after being sworn in as the 47th US President on January 20, Trump reversed Biden’s 2021 order, effectively reinstating the ban.

(ANI)