In a significant legal setback for former President Donald Trump’s policies, two federal judges issued rulings on Tuesday blocking enforcement of his executive orders—one banning transgender individuals from military service and the other dismantling the US Agency for International Development (USAID).
Judge Blocks Trump’s Transgender Military Ban
US District Judge Ana Reyes in Washington, D.C., ruled that Trump’s order excluding transgender troops from military service likely violates their constitutional rights. The injunction, which delays enforcement until Friday, gives the administration time to appeal.
Reyes emphasized that those who serve in the military deserve respect, stating, “Every person who has answered the call to serve deserves our gratitude and respect.”
The ruling came as a relief to transgender service members like Army Reserves 2nd Lt. Nicolas Talbott, who feared losing his position. “This is all I’ve ever wanted to do. This is my dream job,” said Talbott, who enlisted in March 2024 after years of legal battles.
Trump’s order argued that transgender identity conflicts with military discipline and readiness. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s policy disqualified individuals with gender dysphoria, a medical condition linked to distress over gender identity. However, Reyes ruled that the order likely violates equal protection rights under the Fifth Amendment.
Plaintiffs’ attorneys from the National Center for Lesbian Rights and GLAD Law stated that thousands of transgender service members have risked their lives defending the same constitutional rights that Trump’s order sought to deny them.
Judge Halts Elon Musk’s USAID Shutdown
In a separate ruling, US District Judge Theodore Chuang in Maryland blocked Elon Musk and the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) from further dismantling USAID. The ruling, issued in response to a lawsuit by USAID employees, restores access to agency computer systems and reinstates thousands of workers who had been placed on leave.
Chuang’s decision comes amid a broader legal battle over Trump’s efforts to restructure foreign aid programs. On his first day back in office, Trump ordered a 90-day freeze on all U.S. foreign aid, prompting concerns about the country’s global humanitarian commitments.
Norm Eisen, a lawyer representing USAID employees, called the ruling a “victory against Elon Musk and his DOGE attack on USAID, the U.S. government, and the Constitution.”