BALTIMORE, Md. – Attorney General Anthony G. Brown, on February 14th, joined a coalition of 20 attorneys general in filing an amicus brief to support a lawsuit aiming to block the implementation of President Trump’s executive order banning transgender people from serving in the military. The brief argues that the executive order is unconstitutional, harms national security, and discriminates against transgender people honorably serving in our nation’s military, including the National Guard in every state.
The brief filed by Attorney General Brown and the coalition supports a request for a preliminary injunction filed by a group of current and prospective transgender service members. The plaintiffs filed suit in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia. The Court set the date for a hearing on February 18, 2025.
“Transgender Americans deserve the honor of serving their country through military service, just like every other American patriot,” said Attorney General Brown. “This ban dishonors every servicemember who makes sacrifices to protect our freedom to be our true selves.”
The coalition argues that President Trump’s executive order purporting to ban transgender people from serving in the military violates the Fifth Amendment to the Constitution. It would also weaken our military, harm state emergency and disaster preparedness, deprive the military of experienced and qualified soldiers during an extremely challenging time for recruitment, and engage in discrimination in violation of state laws protecting transgender individuals’ right to participate fully in society.
Transgender people have served in the military for years. A 2014 study found that approximately 150,000 veterans, active-duty service members, and members of the National Guard or Reserves identified as transgender. In fact, transgender individuals are about twice as likely to have served in the military as cisgender individuals. But the executive order would require the military to discharge transgender members and turn away potential recruits solely because they identify as transgender. After the first, longstanding ban was lifted in 2016, and again when the Trump administration’s first attempt to ban transgender service was reversed in 2021, some transgender National Guard members came out to their superiors and peers with no negative impact on the Guard’s functions.
The military has already concluded—twice—following comprehensive reviews that allowing transgender individuals to serve consistent with their gender identity is in the nation’s best interest. Reinstating the ban simply cannot be justified by reference to costs, unit cohesion, or overall readiness.
Joining Attorney General Brown in filing today’s brief are the attorneys general of California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, and Wisconsin.
Just another ploy to try to stop what the American people ‘VOTED FOR’, because the whining Demoncrats didn’t win and will be found to have had their hands in the cookie jar.
Can’t wait until the DOJ starts going after the abu$er$.
Transgenders serving in the military, Trump, who never served, wants them banned. When you’re under fire, who cares about gender? As long as they’re well-trained and can shoot to kill, that’s all that matters.
I question the ability of anymore who is confused by basic human identity and biology has any business behind the barrel of a weapon. They will have no ability to determine who is an enemy and who is a friend. Insane people do not make rational decisions.
And woe to a country that purposefully puts women in combat.
call it shocking\ call it a miracle what Trump is doing. Its been a while since the US Constitution was followed. If you don’t recognize Trump because hes not wearing a suit + tie, it might be him. He might have put on a janitors uniform because hes cleaning up.
I agree with getting rid of transgender in the military. Why? All meds used by transgender must be taken everyday forever. They can’t be combat ready. Why? If they forget their meds or run out, then what? They go thru withdrawal. Think about having high blood pressure and a person goes off their meds. What happens!? Blood pressure goes up…. Stroke, heart attack, etc. take hormones from trans…. Psychotic behavior, muscle atrophy… so Maryland why are we complaining! Get smart. The Governor understands or chooses to play dumb. Like females in combat. They don’t go on the ground fighting. Why? Females can’t lift or carry 80 lbs on their back for miles. Been there. I found out when I had to carry a male wounded male in rain and mud. What happened ? My face landed in the face. The wounded wasn’t moved 1 inch until male counterparts helped. I was truly disgusted with myself. Plus my counterpart could have died. Be smart. Be safe.
@teresa tkacik,
“Females can’t lift or carry 80 lbs on their back for miles.”
A lot of men can’t either, but there are other jobs in the military that don’t require being able to carry 80 or more pounds on their backs. Computer software engineers, supply corps, pilots, medical staff, you get the point. The military needs bodies; if someone wants to serve and is capable of going through training, etc, thank them for their service.
We are supposed to be able to look at our flag to tell whether we are at war (declared by Congress) + not be dependent on the press to tell us. Civil law flag at peacetime (not at war)\ military flag. Same colors, different design. FYI. Its been a while since the civil flag was used. Is it available? If the civil flag were used, the conversation would be way different. If you don’t declare a war, you don’t lose a war.
Y’all worried about a few transgendered people in the military serving their country BUT have no problem with a South African oligarch destroying the democracy, aided and abetted by a convicted felon. No problem with the fact that the felon lied to you (eggs!) and is now systematically destroying the federal government. And before you say it’s bloated, understand this: in 1970, there were 2.1M feds and the US population was 201,000,000. In 2020, there were 2.2M feds and a population of 331,000,000. It’s not the size of the federal workforce, it’s the lack of proper staffing.
Of your distorted 1970 number of Feds, how many were military (Vietnam draftees)? You know, after McNamara had started drafting sub par inductees to boost his budget and numbers.