Army Orders Transgender Soldiers’ Records to Reflect Sex at Birth as Part of New Policy Shift
New Army Memo Mandates Changes to Records, Pronouns, and Facility Access Based on Biological Sex
The U.S. Army will revise the official records of transgender service members to list only their sex at birth, according to internal guidance reviewed by Reuters. The directive is part of a broader set of measures aimed at phasing transgender individuals out of the military.
“Commanders will take immediate measures to update personnel records and administrative systems to reflect biological sex for all individuals,” the 14-page memo instructed. The document also stated that the Army views sex as “unchanging during a person’s life,” aligning with guidance from a February 26 Pentagon memo.
In addition to record updates, the memo outlined further policy changes to be implemented by the Army’s Human Resources Command. Pronoun usage, according to the directive, must now align with a soldier’s biological sex, and formal salutations such as “sir” or “ma’am” are to reflect that designation.
The policy also addresses access to gender-specific facilities. “Commanders will ensure all such shared intimate spaces will be clearly designated for either male, female, or family use,” the memo said.
An estimated 4,240 transgender troops currently serve on active duty or in the National Guard. The move comes after President Trump, following his return to office in January, signed an executive order overturning the Biden-era policy that had allowed transgender individuals to serve openly in the military.
Story originally from Reuters.