Great Lakes Wire

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel has aligned with a group of 20 state attorneys general to support a legal challenge against President Donald Trump's executive order banning transgender individuals from military service. The coalition has filed an amicus brief in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, arguing that the order is unconstitutional and harmful to national security.

Attorney General Nessel emphasized the importance of allowing all individuals who wish to serve in the military to do so, regardless of gender identity. "Everyone who puts on a uniform to protect our country deserves our respect and the opportunity to serve," Nessel stated. She described the ban as discriminatory and detrimental to national security.

The coalition's brief supports a request for a preliminary injunction by current and prospective transgender service members. They argue that Trump's order violates the Fifth Amendment, weakens military capabilities, harms state emergency preparedness, and contravenes state laws protecting transgender rights.

A 2014 study highlighted that approximately 150,000 veterans and active-duty service members identify as transgender. The Trump administration's order would mandate their discharge or rejection based solely on their gender identity.

The military has previously determined that allowing transgender individuals to serve aligns with national interests after comprehensive reviews in 2016 and again in 2021 when earlier bans were lifted or reversed.

Attorneys general from states including California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington State joined Michigan in filing the amicus brief.