WASHINGTON (TNND) — The deadline has passed for active-duty transgender troops to voluntarily self-identify and leave the military, as mandated by a recent Department of Defense policy. The policy, which required compliance by Friday, was issued following an order from the Defense Secretary to remove service members with a diagnosis or history of, or exhibiting symptoms consistent with, gender dysphoria.

The Trump administration avoids using the terms "trans" or "transgender," instead using "gender dysphoria." In January, President Donald Trump said that troops expressing a gender identity different from their sex cannot meet the military's rigorous standards.

The Department of Defense has started the process of involuntarily separating affected service members. Officials say the primary means of identification for the involuntary process will be through the Individual Medical Readiness Program and any military service-specific IMR guidance. Future medical readiness reviews will ensure no service member has a diagnosis of gender dysphoria.

Service members affected by the policy are eligible for benefits, including separation pay. However, the Defense Department noted that those who voluntarily separate will receive significantly higher pay. For example, an E-5 service member with 10 years of service might receive up to $101,000 if they leave voluntarily, compared to only about half that amount if they are involuntarily separated. Separation pay depends on rank, time in service, and whether the separation is voluntary.

The Department of Defense estimates that around 4,200 service members have been diagnosed with gender dysphoria, with 1,000 who have already self-identified and begun the voluntary separation process. Overall, approximately 2.1 million troops are currently serving.

The Department does not have any updated data to share as the voluntary separation period for active-duty service members ended June 6. Service members in the reserve component have until July 7 to self-identity. Characterization of service will be honorable except where the Service member’s record otherwise warrants a lower characterization. Military Services will follow normal processes for administrative separation," a defense official said in a statement to Sinclair Broadcast Group.

The policy has faced opposition, with congressional Democrats introducing the Fit to Serve Act. The bill aims to block efforts to deny service or involuntarily separate troops based on gender identity, including a diagnosis of gender dysphoria, and to ensure access to medically necessary health care coverage for transgender service members. However, with Republicans controlling the White House and both chambers of Congress, the bill's passage is uncertain.

“As I have said repeatedly, thousands of transgender service members have served openly with honor and distinction in combat zones and carrying out high-stakes missions for nearly a decade. They are held to the exact same rigorous standards as every other Soldier, Sailor, Airman, Marine, Guardian, or Coast Guardsman. Banning them simply because they are transgender will not strengthen our military—it will weaken it. Enforcing this bigoted policy for the sake of cruelty and to score partisan points is antithetical to what the United States of America and our Armed Forces stand and fight for,” Rep. Adam Smith (D-Wash.) said in a press release.

Transgender service members have put their lives on the line in defense of our freedom—we in Congress must now fight for their ability to serve and their fundamental right to exist.