US Army to change transgender soldiers' records to birth sex

The U.S. Army plans to modify the official records of transgender service members to list only their sex assigned at birth, according to internal guidance obtained by Reuters. 

The move is part of a broader set of measures aimed at removing transgender troops from military service.

The 14-page memo instructs commanders to “immediately” update personnel files and administrative systems to reflect “biological sex,” aligning with a February 26 Pentagon directive that defines sex as unchanging over a person's lifetime.

This guidance signals how President Donald Trump’s administration intends to proceed with policies affecting thousands of transgender service members, following a recent Supreme Court decision that allowed the Pentagon to enforce a ban on their military service.

Reuters previously reported on May 8 that the Pentagon would begin removing transgender troops who do not voluntarily depart by June 6. Additional reporting on May 12 outlined plans to end gender-affirming healthcare for these service members.

While the Army has not publicly commented on the memo, the document outlines various policy changes. In addition to record alterations, the Army’s Human Resources Command is tasked with enforcing compliance.

According to the memo, pronoun usage and forms of address must correspond to an individual’s biological sex. It also mandates that “intimate spaces,” such as bathrooms and sleeping quarters, be segregated strictly by biological sex or designated as family-use facilities.

The new rules could affect at least 4,240 active-duty and National Guard transgender service members, though advocacy groups suggest the actual number may be higher.

Jennifer Levi, senior director at GLAD Law, an LGBTQ legal advocacy group, criticized the policy changes. “The directives coming out are vindictive and aggressive. At the same time, they are being issued in a chaotic way that undoubtedly is harming military readiness,” she said.

President Trump signed an executive order in January reversing the inclusive policies adopted under President Joe Biden, which had allowed transgender individuals to serve openly in the military.

Public support for transgender military service has declined. A February Gallup poll found that 58% of Americans favor allowing openly transgender people to serve — down from 71% in 2019.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, a former Fox News host known for his conservative views, has supported eliminating diversity programs in the military and other so-called "culture war" initiatives.