Yesterday, the Supreme Court allowed the Trump Administration to enforce its ban on transgender individuals serving in the military. This decision overturns previous blocks by lower courts and will remain in effect as legal challenges continue. Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel, who had filed an amicus brief supporting a lawsuit against President Donald Trump's executive order, expressed her disapproval of the ruling.
"I am, quite simply, appalled by this decision from the Supreme Court," Nessel stated. She criticized the Department of Justice for admitting that the ban is not based on military readiness or service ability but rather on bias and discrimination.
Nessel warned that allowing the ban to proceed during ongoing legal challenges signals a potential willingness by the Court to permit unjustified restrictions on minorities. She referenced the Supreme Court's Obergefell decision, which emphasized that government policies cannot be driven by animus alone.
"The Trump Administration never claimed that these transgender service members were doing anything wrong or weren’t serving their country honorably," she added. "This is not about performance. It’s about prejudice."
Nessel also highlighted concerns over military capability and morale. "These troops...are ready, willing, and able to serve their country with honor," she said. Removing them undermines both personnel numbers and morale while wasting taxpayer dollars spent on training.
Despite her disappointment with the ruling, Nessel remains hopeful that "the rule of law will ultimately prevail" and that the executive order will be overturned.