Judge Halts Military Transgender Ban Hearing Over DOJ Lawyer's Lack of Preparation

U.S. District Judge Ana Reyes criticized the Department of Justice for failing to review key reports cited in the Pentagon's policy banning most transgender service members.

Judge Ana Reyes paused a hearing on the Pentagon's transgender military ban after discovering that a DOJ lawyer had not read the reports used to justify the policy.
The policy, finalized in February, disqualifies most transgender individuals from military service, with limited exceptions requiring stringent waivers.
Reyes noted that the reports cited by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth were misquoted in the policy, raising questions about its credibility.
The plaintiffs argue the ban violates the Fifth Amendment's equal protection clause and causes harm to transgender soldiers and military cohesion.
The DOJ has defended the policy by citing mental health concerns, but Reyes has expressed skepticism about its impact on military readiness and questioned its rationale.