Supreme Court clears way for Trump administration to enforce transgender military ban for now

Washington — The Supreme Court on Tuesday said it will allow the Trump administration to implement its policy barring transgender people from serving in the military while legal proceedings move forward.

The high court agreed to pause a lower court order that had blocked the administration from implementing its ban nationwide. The Justice Department sought emergency relief from the Supreme Court after a federal appeals court left in place that district court's injunction. Justices Sonia Sotomayor, Elena Kagan and Ketanji Brown Jackson said they would deny the administration's request.

The policy stems from an executive order President Trump signed in January that targeted active-duty and prospective service members with gender dysphoria. The measure said the military's "high standards for troop readiness, lethality, cohesion, honesty, humility, uniformity and integrity" are inconsistent with the "medical, surgical and mental health constraints on individuals with gender dysphoria."