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April 13, 2026
Transgender Military Personnel Kept on Paid Leave Amid Ban
- Transgender troops are on paid leave after being barred from service by President Donald Trump's reinstated ban, causing frustration among those eager to serve.
- Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has labeled transgender identities as incompatible with military standards, resulting in key positions remaining unfilled.
- The cost of medical care for transgender personnel is minimal compared to military expenditures, raising questions about the rationale behind the ban.
- Service members like Capt. Katie Benn express deep frustration over being sidelined despite their training and commitment to serve.
2 Sources
- Trump’s Military Transgender Ban Is Keeping Workers on Expensive Paid LeaveApr 13, 2026 at 9:00 AM · NYT
- Transgender servicepeople are getting full pay but told not to workApr 13, 2026 at 3:53 PM · Independent