FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Washington, D.C. (May 6, 2025) – We share our community’s shock and devastation following the Supreme Court’s decision today in Shilling v Trump to lift the nationwide injunction that prevented the transgender military ban from going into effect. This decision stands in stark contrast to multiple rulings by lower courts that blocked the ban as likely unconstitutional. It is also a troubling departure from many of the Roberts Court’s recent rulings, which deferred to lower courts, especially when those rulings were unanimous. 

While the parallel Talbott injunction is still on stay pending a decision from a circuit court, and both cases will continue to be heard on merit, today’s disappointing decision allows the Department of Defense to begin processing trans troops for separation. This will inflict irreparable harm not only to military readiness, but also on service members and their families whose livelihoods and careers are at stake. 

Thousands of transgender Americans have served openly for almost 10 years with honor, courage, and effectiveness. By disregarding their service records and ignoring all recent rulings that found the ban discriminatory, unjust, and lacking basis, our nation’s highest court has betrayed American heroes. 

This ban — just given the stamp of approval to proceed by the Roberts Court — is a full purge, going further than the policy the same court approved in 2019 that permitted already-transitioned service members to remain. This time, the Supreme Court is greenlighting a policy that indiscriminately bans all transgender people from current or future service without argument or a chance to present the overwhelming evidence of their capabilities — and without the ability to continue to serve the country while their cases work their way through the courts. 

This ruling sends a false message to those who have selflessly dedicated their lives to protecting our nation: that their identity is incompatible with their desire to serve our country. That they are expendable. That their purge from our defense department inflicts less harm than keeping them – despite the millions invested in their careers over decades. 

We know that false message is not reality. Service members have proven that’s not the case and they do it every day. That’s why at Modern Military, we will continue to fight for a military and a country that recognizes the right of all who are capable to serve, no matter their identity. Our transgender Americans in uniform have earned our support and their place serving our country. Their courage and dedication does not waver, and neither will ours. This fight isn’t over.

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