US Navy Reveals New Policy for Sailors Experiencing Gender Dysphoria

On March 13, the Department of the Navy announced that sailors with a current diagnosis or history of gender dysphoria may voluntarily separate, as the department will only acknowledge the male and female sexes, stating that “gender is immutable.”

“Requests for waivers for retention or accession will be evaluated on an individual basis. Sailors eligible for voluntary separation pay will receive double the amount of involuntary separation pay, although this is not applicable to those with fewer than six or more than 20 years of service,” according to the statement.

Sailors who choose voluntary separation will be placed in an administrative absence status, receiving full pay and benefits until their separation process is completed. The Navy has pledged to uphold the “privacy and dignity” of those affected by this policy change.

Additionally, the Navy stated that individuals who separate voluntarily will not be required to repay any education benefits or bonuses they have previously received.

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The Navy document further asserts that individuals with a history of cross-sex hormone therapy, sex reassignment, or genital reconstruction surgery as part of gender-related treatments will be considered disqualified for military service applications.

Requests for waivers may be evaluated on a case-by-case basis by the Secretary of the Navy.

Trump Cancels Biden’s Authorizations

In January 2021, following his election as the 46th President of the United States, Joe Biden issued an executive order that overturned the prior administration’s stance regarding transgender military personnel.

At that time, then-Defense Secretary Lloyd J. Austin III remarked that all transgender individuals “who wish to serve in the United States military and can meet the appropriate standards shall be able to do so openly and free from discrimination.” Personnel were permitted to serve in accordance with their self-identified gender.

Biden’s policy also guaranteed that all medically necessary transition-related treatments would be accessible to service members.

The order stipulated enforcement of privacy in intimate spaces.

“Agencies shall take all necessary steps, as permitted by law, to cease Federal funding of gender ideology,” the order states.

“Effective immediately, all new accessions from individuals with a history of gender dysphoria are paused, and all unscheduled, scheduled, or planned medical procedures related to affirming or facilitating a gender transition for service members are also paused.”