Pentagon and US military reportedly searching medical records to identify trans troops
The Pentagon (Getty Images)
The Pentagon is reportedly searching military medical records to identify transgender service members as the Trump administration continues its efforts to remove trans people from the US military.
According to Federal News Network, hundreds of active-duty and reserve troops may have been identified in recent months, with commanders allegedly receiving instructions to begin separation proceedings.
The searches are believed to involve military health and personnel databases, which can contain highly sensitive information including medical histories, prescriptions, mental health notes and records from healthcare received before someone joined the military.
The move has sparked concerns among transgender service members and advocates, particularly over the use of private medical information to identify people who may not have openly identified as trans.
Some troops facing separation reportedly transitioned years ago, or sought treatment while following the rules and policies that were in place at the time. They are now being targeted after those policies changed.
The latest sweep is seemingly going beyond service members who have publicly transitioned. People whose medical records mention a past transition, a history of gender dysphoria or related treatment are also reportedly being flagged.
According to Priya Rashid, an attorney representing affected troops, the searches have even identified some people who are not transgender, including service members who received certain medical procedures or diagnoses while seeking treatment for other conditions.
The Pentagon has not answered questions about the reported searches, citing ongoing litigation.
The ban is currently facing multiple legal challenges, with the Trump administration having asked the US Supreme Court to consider the policy.
Meanwhile, affected service members face losing careers they have spent years building, while advocates warn that removing experienced personnel could also impact military staffing and readiness.
The reported use of medical records has reignited questions around privacy, discrimination and the treatment of transgender people who were serving under previous military policies.
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