Meet the Trans Troops the Trump Administration Is Barring

Credit...John Francis Peters, Caroline Gutman and Desiree Rios for The New York Times

Officers and enlisted. Combat veterans and recent recruits. Transgender service members say their military experience has looked nothing like the portrayal of them in the political arena.

By Dave Philipps

Reporting from San Diego

Feb. 27, 2025

Sgt. First Class Julia Becraft circled up a dozen infantry soldiers at Fort Cavazos, Texas, and introduced herself as their new squad leader. She let them know they were in experienced hands: She had deployed to Afghanistan three times, seen a fair share of combat and been awarded the Bronze Star.

Also, she told them, she was transgender.

She had worried about this moment since transitioning a year earlier. How would the soldiers react? Would they accept a trans woman as their leader?

For a few seconds, no one spoke. Then there were nods of acceptance. Other soldiers started introducing themselves as well, sharing something about their own lives.