Supreme Court upholds Trump's ban on transgender military members while appeals continue

The U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday allowed the Trump administration to begin executing its ban on transgender military service members, at least for now. The justices blocked a lower court order that temporarily halted the ban's enforcement.

The court's three liberals said they would have denied the application.

Shortly after President Trump was sworn in for the second time, he signed an executive order banning transgender individuals from serving in the military.

The Defense Department promptly barred transgender individuals from enlisting and discharged active duty soldiers as well.

The new policy mimics a previous transgender military ban established during the first Trump Administration. The Supreme Court allowed that controversial Trump policy to remain in place in 2019, but it was reversed by President Biden shortly after he took office.