As Trump's ban looms, transgender service members defend their fitness to serve

The Pentagon's forced ouster of transgender service members could impact thousands of people and devastate careers, military members and veterans say.The big picture: While the Trump administration claims its restrictive policies will promote military "readiness," trans soldiers and veterans say the administration's ban is driven by animus rather than evidence — and will mark a substantial loss to the armed services.Catch up quick: The Pentagon announced earlier this month it would begin removing some 1,000 openly transgender service members and give other active-duty service members 30 days and reservists 60 days to leave or be forced out.While there is no exact count of the number of transgender people serving, officials have said 4,240 service members have a diagnosis of gender dysphoria.The policy comes amid years of whiplash. But for nearly two decades, "don't ask, don't tell," which banned gay, lesbian and bisexual people from serving openly, was the military's policy.What they're saying: Alaina Kupec, a former Naval intelligence officer, told Axios she thinks "this is a path toward don't ask, don't tell again — and it starts with the transgender community." "If we use the logic of the president and the secretary of defense, they can make a decision on who is best to serve based on what they think, not what's based on fact," she said.Zoom out: Commander Emily Shilling, a naval aviator and the president of SPARTA Pride, came out as transgender in 2019, when she knew telling the Navy would mean leaving the service.That was until former President Biden's 2020 win offered hope. He reversed the ban from President Trump's first term and again accepted transgender people into the military.Shilling went through "every physical test ... every psychological test" to regain her flight clearance post-transition — setting precedent that it was possible."I view myself as living proof that we are high performers capable of doing some of the toughest jobs in the military," Shilling said.Yes, but: After about two decades of service, Shilling is doing her out-processing to depart the U.S. military.Shilling said she's being kicked out, despite her most recent evaluation describing her as an "inspiring leader" with "boundless energy." Context: Shilling is the lead plaintiff in a challenge to the Pentagon's ban. While lower court judges blocked the policy, the Supreme Court cleared the road for the administration to enforce it as litigation continues.A Defense Department official told Axios that waivers will be considered "provided there is a compelling government interest in retaining the Service member that directly supports warfighting capabilities."But, but, but: The criteria laid out by the DoD say the service member must demonstrate "36 consecutive months of stability" in their sex "without clinically significant distress" and that they "never attempted to transition to any sex other than their sex" to be exempt. "How is a trans person who's affected by this policy supposed to ever apply for a waiver?" Shilling asked.GLAAD CEO Sarah Kate Ellis said in a statement provided to Axios that allowing the ban to take place is "out of step with the views of the American people, compromises military readiness, and will make America less safe."Chart: Axios VisualsSome three decades ago, Kupec faced a conundrum as she grappled with her gender identity. While she started to find clarity, the feeling was also crippling — and it meant departing from the service.Kupec said she "came to that breaking point where it was either choose to move forward and live or a darker alternative." She left the Navy and began her public transition several years later.The bottom line: Trump's claim that being transgender is "not consistent with the humility and selflessness required of a service member" is "complete gaslighting," Kupec said."When we go into conflict, when bullets fly, when missiles are in the air, you want somebody who's there to do the job and to execute the mission — and that's what is first and foremost," she said.Go deeper: All of the anti-trans executive orders Trump has signed

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