WASHINGTON — U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has openly ridiculed a federal judge who recently blocked a ban on transgender individuals serving in the military, escalating the Trump administration’s ongoing disputes with the judiciary. Hegseth, formerly a Fox News television host and a military veteran, referred sarcastically to District Judge Ana Reyes as “Commander Reyes” in a social media post, questioning her jurisdiction over military matters.
Judge Reyes, appointed by former Democratic President Joe Biden, ruled against President Donald Trump’s executive order from January 27 which sought to restrict legal rights for transgender Americans. The order was deemed likely unconstitutional as it may violate the equal protection clause.
In his contentious post, Hegseth mocked the expertise of Judge Reyes in military strategy, suggesting she should train Army Rangers and Green Berets at Fort Benning and Fort Bragg, respectively. This remark has stirred concerns about the respect afforded to judicial authorities and comes amid broader criticism of federal judges by Trump and his administration, including billionaire adviser Elon Musk and Attorney General Pam Bondi.
The rhetoric intensified when Trump labeled another judge overseeing a challenge to deportation policies as a “Radical Left Lunatic,” prompting a rare admonishment from the Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court. This series of attacks corresponds with a worrying trend of rising tensions between the executive branch and federal judges who have consistently blocked several of Trump’s initiatives through nationwide injunctions.
Since taking command at the Pentagon, Hegseth has prioritized cultural and ideological shifts within the military, pushing for the elimination of diversity, equity, and inclusion programs, and reinforcing a ban on transgender troops. His policies have led to significant changes in military leadership, including the dismissal of General CQ Brown, the chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and the Navy’s top admiral, the first woman to hold that position.
Defense efforts to enforce a ban on transgender individuals from serving have led to multiple lawsuits, particularly after a 2020 Supreme Court ruling which found that employment discrimination against transgender people constitutes illegal sex discrimination. Despite the legal challenges, in February, the military announced a cessation of recruitment and medical support for gender transition among service members, with steps to discharge transgender personnel actively discussed.
Legal representatives for the Trump administration have argued that the military has the prerogative to exclude individuals based on medical conditions deemed unsuitable for service, including transgender status, bipolar disorder, and eating disorders. They have urged the courts, including Judge Reyes, to defer to the military’s judgment on these matters.
As legal battles continue and public scrutiny of the administration’s stance on transgender rights persists, the implications for both national policy and the lives of individual service members remain profound and far-reaching.
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