Pentagon digs through troops’ confidential medical records to hunt for transgender service members

The Defense Department has accessed private medical records belonging to U.S. troops as it tries to drive closeted transgender service members out of the military.

Multiple sources told the Federal News Network that the Pentagon is using medical and personnel data to identify transgender service members as the Trump administration forces them out of the military. According to SPARTA Pride and Priya Rashid, an attorney with the National Institute of Military Justice, that effort has outed several hundred active duty and reserve service members over the past two months.

The administration has also adopted a criterion for deciding who will be forced out under its ban, declaring that any history of gender dysphoria is incompatible with “high standards for troop readiness, lethality, cohesion, honesty, humility, uniformity and integrity.”

Related: Decorated transgender troops endure closed-door hearings with foregone conclusions in Pentagon purge

To identify troops with current or past gender dysphoria diagnoses, sources told Federal News Network that the Pentagon has begun what advocates describe as an unprecedented search of military health systems. That includes combing through protected medical records. The outlet spoke with at least two transgender service members facing separation after their commands were notified that gender dysphoria-related diagnoses had been flagged in their records.

In some cases, the information appears to come directly from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s office. One internal Air Force email reviewed by Federal News Network said the Office of the Secretary of Defense had identified specific troops “who may have a current diagnosis or history of or exhibit symptoms consistent with gender dysphoria in their electronic healthcare record.”

Related: Pentagon begins mass removal of transgender troops

The sweep has reached service academy and Reserve Officer Training Corps cadets. Some service members are learning that they will be discharged simply because they received treatment when gender dysphoria was not a barrier to military service.

“A new line has just shifted and said that these people are inadequate for being able to serve,” said SPARTA Pride Executive Director Kara Corcoran, who faces separation from active Army service because of the policy change.

The Advocate has reported that some transgender service members who accepted voluntary separation after the latest military ban took effect have not received their promised separation pay, leaving some facing homelessness.

Related: New Pentagon memo dictates how transgender troops must look to defend their service

As service members and advocates describe the Pentagon’s search as a “witch hunt,” Hegseth has focused publicly on troops’ testosterone levels and used a commencement address to demean diversity.

The Pentagon has continued separating transgender service members even as advocates challenge the ban in federal court. The administration has asked the Supreme Court to decide whether the policy is constitutional before the case reaches trial.