In fact, there are a lot of problems with this decision

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Col. Brian T. Donnelly (ret.) of INDOPACOM

Radical Judge Blocks Trump Admin's Military Transgender Ban - But There's a Problem

We’ll start with the one I see: Acting under his authority as Commander in Chief, Biden issues an executive order reversing former military regulations that barred them from serving and ordered that “transgenders” be permitted to join up, and remain. The next Commander in Chief, Trump, used the same executive power to rescind his predecessor’s order and restored the original bar. How can Biden’s actions be within the scope of his executive power, but not Trump’s? We don’t seem to demand much from the law these days, but applying the same principle to two identical actions would seem to be a minimal requirement if any sort of rule of law is to survive.

Is the readiness of troops a legitimate concern of a Commander in Chief of the military? Yes, yes it is*

Now here’s RedState’s Clark Ward’s take:

Another day, another activist judge. This time it's Judge Ana Reyes, of the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, who has issued a preliminary injunction barring the Trump administration's new rules on transgender individuals serving in the armed forces.

There's a problem, though; the injunction relies on objectively false information and independent "research" done by Judge Reyes. Civil liberties attorney Laura Powell has details.

According to Ms. Powell, the judge not only relied on bad information, but she broke the rules.

Part of that responsibility is to ensure the readiness of those armed forces - and allowing "transgender" individuals to serve in the armed forces in no way enhances readiness. Indeed, it places logistical burdens on the military, due to the necessity of ongoing medical treatments that people undergoing transgender surgeries and therapies. 

The armed forces are not a jobs program. They are necessary for the survival of a free nation, and in recruiting service members, readiness should be - must be - the only consideration. Any service member must stand ready to close with and destroy the enemy by fire, maneuver, and shock effect. [Well, the shock of seeing a pack of soldiers in dog masks and furry costumes might satisfy Clark’s requirement in this particular aspect, but otherwise …. —ED]

*Question asked of Grok, and reply:

Q: do transgenders require regular medical attention after they have completed their transition? How about if they have had a vagina created?

  1. After completing a gender transition, the need for regular medical attention depends on the individual’s specific circumstances, including the type of transition (hormonal, surgical, or both) and any procedures they’ve undergone. For transgender individuals who have pursued hormone therapy—such as estrogen for trans women or testosterone for trans men—ongoing medical care is typically required. This involves regular checkups to monitor hormone levels, liver function, and other health markers to ensure the therapy remains safe and effective. Hormones are usually a lifelong commitment unless someone chooses to stop, and discontinuing them can lead to reversal of some changes (like fat distribution or muscle mass) while others (like voice deepening in trans men) are permanent.

  2. For those who’ve had gender-affirming surgeries, such as vaginoplasty (the creation of a vagina), postoperative care is critical in the short term, and some level of maintenance may be needed long-term. After vaginoplasty, initial recovery involves wound care, managing potential complications like infection or fistula, and dilation—a process where a medical dilator is used regularly to maintain the vaginal canal’s depth and width, as the body doesn’t naturally lubricate or sustain it like a cisgender vagina. Dilation is intense at first (daily or multiple times a day) but may taper off to once a week or less after a year or two, depending on the surgeon’s protocol and the individual’s healing. Studies suggest about 1-2% of vaginoplasty patients experience significant complications like rectal injury or prolapse, though rates vary by surgical technique and expertise.

  3. Beyond dilation, regular gynecological-like exams might be recommended to check for issues like granulation tissue (excess healing tissue) or, rarely, neoplastic changes in the neovagina, though cancer risk is considered extremely low. If the surgery involved using penile or scrotal tissue, hair growth in the vaginal canal could require management. For trans men who’ve had phalloplasty or metoidioplasty, follow-ups might focus on urinary function or implant maintenance if erectile devices were used.

  4. Not all transgender people opt for surgery—many stick to hormones or social transition alone—so their medical needs differ. Data from the 2022 U.S. Transgender Survey shows about 25% of trans respondents had undergone some form of gender-affirming surgery, with vaginoplasty being less common than top surgery (e.g., mastectomy). Regardless, most guidelines (like those from WPATH) recommend at least annual checkups with an endocrinologist or primary care provider familiar with trans health to monitor overall well-being, catch side effects, and adjust treatment as needed. Aging can also bring unique considerations, like prostate health in trans women or osteoporosis risk from long-term hormone use.

  5. So, yes, if a vagina was created, ongoing care is more involved due to dilation and potential complications, but even without surgery, hormone-based transitions still require regular medical oversight. It’s tailored to the person—some need more attention, some less.

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