During his first day in office, Trump rescinded a Biden executive order that allowed for equal service by transgender people. Days later, he issued his own executive order that disparaged and banned transgender people from serving in the military, including ordering the currently serving transgender people to be kicked out. In the following months, the Department of Defense issued guidance conforming with the executive order and setting out a timeline to remove transgender people from military service. This policy will force out transgender servicemembers who have dedicated their lives to this country, undermining military readiness and impacting servicemembers’ ability to continue to provide for their families, serve their country and access essential healthcare. In response, the Human Rights Campaign Foundation and Lambda Legal stepped up to challenge this policy and protect the rights of transgender servicemembers in our armed forces.

“A dishonorable action from a dishonorable administration,” said Sarah Warbelow, vice president of legal at the HRC Foundation. “This attack on those who have dedicated themselves to serving our country is not only morally reprehensible but fundamentally un-American.” 

For Warbelow and her team, this legal battle is about more than just protecting the careers of servicemembers; it’s about standing up for the very ideals of honor, duty and equality the U.S. military is meant to represent.

Among the plaintiffs in this case are seven transgender individuals who are currently serving in the military, including Commander Emily Shilling and Lieutenant Commander Geirid Morgan. Both are seasoned veterans with extensive records of service, yet their careers — and the careers of thousands like them — are now threatened by a policy grounded in discrimination rather than military readiness.

Commander Emily Shilling, a U.S. Navy veteran with 19 years of service, is a decorated leader in her field. As a naval aviator and test pilot, she has completed over 60 combat missions and logged more than 1,700 flight hours. Despite her distinguished service, Shilling finds herself targeted by this ban. 

“The assertion that transgender service members like myself are inherently untrustworthy or lack honor is an insult to all who have dedicated their lives to defending this country,” said Shilling. 

Her comments echo the frustration of many who see this policy as an unjust and dangerous step backward, both for military readiness and national security.

Lieutenant Commander Morgan, who has served 14 years in the U.S. Navy, also spoke out against the ban. 

“Transgender Americans who volunteer to serve in the Armed Forces meet the same standards and requirements to serve as any other warfighter,” Morgan said. “Our nation has invested billions of dollars into our military training and experience, and we have invested years of our lives and countless hours of hard work in service to this nation.” 

Like Shilling, Morgan emphasized that the real damage here is not to individual careers, but to the military’s strength and effectiveness, which will be severely weakened by losing highly trained and dedicated professionals.

The lawsuit challenges the constitutionality of the ban and asks the court to block the policy while the legal battle plays out. The HRC Foundation and Lambda Legal argue that the policy not only undermines military readiness but also compromises the safety and security of the United States by excluding qualified and brave individuals from serving. 

“This blatant injustice cannot stand, and we look forward to continuing to represent the brave transgender servicemembers in court,” said Warbelow. 

Co-counsel Sasha Buchert of Lambda Legal stressed that this policy attacks “a vulnerable population based on political opportunism and harmful stereotypes.”

On March 27th, the night before the military planned to begin discharging transgender servicemembers, the federal district court judge assigned to Shilling v. Trump issued a nationwide injunction blocking the Department of Defense from taking action against transgender servicemembers. The road ahead may be long, but the determination to protect the rights of transgender service members is unwavering. 

“We cannot allow political opportunism and false narratives to dictate who gets to serve in our military,” said Warbelow. “Every individual who is qualified and willing to serve deserves that opportunity.” 

Through this legal fight, the HRC Foundation and Lambda Legal are not just defending transgender servicemembers; they are standing up for the equality, justice, and respect all who serve our nation deserve.