Hegseth Suggests Judge Report to Military Bases After Ruling Pentagon Must Allow Transgender Troops

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth made waves on Saturday when he remarked that U.S. District Judge Ana Reyes, following her ruling to block the Pentagon’s transgender troop ban, should head to military bases since she is "now a top military planner." Hegseth’s comments, while biting, reflect the intensity of the debate sparked by the decision.

Judge Reyes, based in Washington, D.C., issued a preliminary injunction last week, effectively halting the enforcement of former President Donald Trump’s executive order banning transgender individuals from military service. The order, issued back in January, argued that expressing a gender identity different from one’s biological sex was incompatible with the demands and discipline required in the military.

Trump’s directive also called for updates to medical and pronoun policies within the Department of Defense, emphasizing that “adoption of a gender identity inconsistent with an individual’s sex conflicts with a soldier’s commitment to an honorable, truthful, and disciplined lifestyle.” Judge Reyes, however, found this language to be "unabashedly demeaning" and argued that it stigmatized transgender individuals as inherently unfit for service.

On social media platform X, Hegseth didn’t hold back. He suggested that Judge Reyes report to Fort Benning at 6:00 AM to train Army Rangers on high-value target raids and then head to Fort Bragg to provide counterinsurgency training to Green Berets. His sarcastic commentary underscores the sharp divide between those supporting the ruling and those opposing it.

The judge’s order has been delayed until Friday morning to allow time for the Trump administration to file an appeal, which it has signaled it will pursue. Reyes justified her decision by stating that the executive order likely violates constitutional rights.

In her written opinion, Reyes acknowledged the controversy her ruling would ignite but ultimately concluded that it was in the public's interest to uphold constitutional protections. "Every person who has answered the call to serve deserves our gratitude and respect," she wrote, highlighting the sacrifices made by transgender servicemembers to protect the very rights the ban sought to deny. Reyes also pointed out that maintaining the status quo during litigation wouldn't harm the defendants but would avoid potential constitutional violations.

The decision has amplified an already heated public discourse, with both sides gearing up for a prolonged legal and cultural battle. For now, it’s clear that this issue is far from resolved.