The landscape is constantly shifting, but here is the current status as of April 27, 2025.

LGBTQ+ Service. Transgender service members are serving and receiving care, including gender affirming surgeries under the Defense Health Agency. Donald Trump issued an executive order on January 27, 2025, terminating service for anyone with a current or former diagnosis of gender dysphoria. Three lawsuits have been filed, two of which have resulted in a nationwide injunction blocking Trump’s EO. The Trump administration has asked the Supreme Court to enact the ban. Recruitment is open to Transgender individuals. Adult dependents of service members who are Transgender are receiving care. Treatments have been halted for minors 19 and under. No Pride events on military installations. No display of Pride flags. To date there has been no call to end Lebian, Gay, and Bisexual service.

Veterans Care with the VA. The VHA LGBTQ+ Health Program, which mandates an LGBTQ+ Veteran Care Coordinator in each VA system, is still in place. The VA’s LGBTQ+ website is still up. The VA will begin phasing out all treatment for gender dysphoria except for veterans who have a previous diagnosis while on active duty and veterans already in the VA system with a current diagnosis. No Pride events. No display of Pride flags. The VA had not begun offering gender confirmation surgeries.

Discharge Upgrades. A class action settlement against the Department of Defense in March, 2025, mandates that the DOD will streamline the process for discharge upgrades for all service eras, including discharges before Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell. The update of narrative codes on DD214s, which included descriptions such as “sexual deviance,” are included in this action. The DOD has until August of this year to comply with the settlement.