Rep. Barry Moore introduces bill to ban transgenders from serving in the armed forces

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Barry Moore (R-AL01) introduced the Readiness Over Wokeness Act. This legislation would codify President Donald J. Trump's (R) Executive Order that reversed a Biden Administration policy of allowing transgender individuals to serve in the military.

The bill has already Cosponsors include Reps. Anna Paulina Luna (R-Florida), Harriet Hageman (Wyoming), Warren Davidson (R-Ohio), Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Georgia), and Andrew Clyde (R-Georgia).

The Readiness Over Wokeness Act will prohibit anyone who has a current diagnosis or history of symptoms consistent with gender dysphoria, or who has received or is receiving gender affirming care, from serving in the armed forces. Rep. Moore's bill also directs the Secretary of Defense to conduct a reinvestigation of the eligibility for access to classified information once separation from the Armed Forces occurs.

"The American people deserve a fighting force that is capable and prepared at any moment to address and deter risks to our nation," said Rep. Moore in a statement. "Serving in the military requires the ability to sustain high mental and physical standards. Transgender people have medical, surgical, and mental health concerns that limit their ability to sustain these standards. I am proud to introduce this bill to codify President Trump's Executive Order to ensure the woke insanity that occurred under the Biden Administration no longer compromises our military strength and readiness."

Since allowing transgenders in the military, the services have struggled to meet recruitment goals. The cost of transgender surgeries and treatments were also prohibitively expensive for the military.

Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has said that the military will refocus on lethality and move away from social experiments.

"Effective immediately, all new accessions for individuals with a history of gender dysphoria are paused, and all unscheduled, scheduled or planned medical procedures associated with affirming or facilitating a gender transition for service members are paused," Hegseth wrote in a memo to all commands.

Military.com reported that as of December, 4,240 people with a gender dysphoria diagnosis were serving on active duty or in the National Guard or the reserves.

From 2015 to 2024, the costs of mental health care for transgenders, hormone therapies, and gender mutilation surgeries cost the taxpayers over $52 million. That includes hormone therapy for about 3,200 troops and gender mutilation surgery for about 1,000.

Barry Moore represents Alabama's First Congressional District.