A U.S. appeals court blocks the Department of Defense from removing current transgender service members, while allowing the administration to impose restrictions on new transgender recruits, at least for now. Multiple outlets report that the decision affirms a lower court ruling, preventing the Pentagon from discharging or expelling existing personnel under a 2025 policy. The court, in a 2–1 ruling, says the administration has not shown that transgender troops harm national security. At the same time, the court permits the government, on an interim basis, to bar transgender people from enlisting while the legal challenge continues. Several sources describe the court’s view that the 2025 policy was unlawfully motivated, citing reasoning that it reflects an intent to harm a politically unpopular group. The rulings are described as not necessarily the final word on transgender servicemembers’ careers, with the case expected to continue through the court process. Overall, the decision draws a line between actions affecting people already serving and potential changes to eligibility for those seeking to join the military.