The Trump administration is paying trans troops not to workhttps://www.advocate.com/politics/national/transgender-military-wasted-money 🔗Christopher Wiggins (13 April 2026)
A ban on transgender military service ordered by President Donald Trump within days of taking office, the second time, has left thousands of service members in an unusual and costly limbo. They are still on the payroll but barred from performing the jobs they were trained to do.
For Sabrina Bruce, a Space Force master sergeant who led a cybersecurity team protecting classified satellites, the impact was immediate and operational. Bruce was removed from her post and left on the personnel rolls, meaning her position could not be filled even as critical national security work continued.
In an earlier interview with The Advocate, Bruce warned that sidelining highly trained transgender service members does not just affect individuals but weakens the military itself. Removing experienced personnel from specialized roles midstream, she said, creates gaps that are not easily or quickly replaced.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has defended the ban, arguing that transgender identity is incompatible with military standards.
