Since Trump’s reinstatement in January, tensions have escalated between his administration and federal judges who have rendered decisions that obstruct certain actions of his. Additionally, there is an increasing concern regarding the safety of these judges.
On Saturday, Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth joined President Donald Trump and other administration officials in condemning federal judges, specifically targeting the judge who suspended a ban on transgender individuals serving in the U.S. military, asserting that she exceeded her authority.
U.S. District Judge Ana Reyes in Washington determined that Trump’s executive order issued on January 27, part of a series of directives aimed at undermining the legal rights of transgender Americans, likely contravened the U.S. Constitution’s guarantee of equal treatment under the law.
In a post on the social media platform X, Hegseth derisively referred to the judge as “Commander Reyes” and accused her of abusing her judicial role by making decisions related to military operations.
“Since ‘Judge’ Reyes is now a leading military strategist, she/they can report to Fort Benning at 0600 to guide our Army Rangers on executing High Value Target Raids,” Hegseth stated. “Following that, Commander Reyes can head to Fort Bragg to instruct our Green Berets on counterinsurgency tactics.”
Reyes was appointed by former President Joe Biden, a Democrat.
Since Trump resumed office in January, tensions have escalated between his administration and members of the federal judiciary who have issued rulings that obstruct some of his actions, raising concerns about the safety of judges. In recent weeks, Trump, along with billionaire adviser Elon Musk, Attorney General Pam Bondi, and other officials, has publicly criticized judges.
For instance, on Tuesday, Trump called for the impeachment of the judge overseeing a legal challenge to deportation flights, labeling him a “Radical Left Lunatic” and a “troublemaker and agitator,” which prompted an unusual rebuke from the Chief Justice of the United States.
Federal courts are currently handling over 100 lawsuits contesting various initiatives from Trump and his administration, with some judges issuing nationwide injunctions to prevent policies such as his attempt to limit automatic birthright citizenship.
Hegseth, a military veteran and former host on Fox News, has prioritized culture war issues, including the prohibition of transgender individuals in the military and the elimination of diversity, equity, and inclusion programs within the U.S. armed forces.
Following Hegseth’s appointment at the Pentagon, Trump dismissed General C.Q. Brown, the Black chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, along with the Navy’s top admiral, who was the first woman to hold that role. Hegseth had previously raised doubts about whether Brown’s appointment was based on merit or solely due to his race.
Although Trump and Hegseth possess significant authority to remove military officers, their attempts to exclude transgender service members have led to multiple legal challenges.
On February 11, the military announced it would cease allowing transgender individuals to enlist and would halt any medical procedures related to gender transition for active service members. Later that month, the military indicated it would start the process of expelling transgender personnel.
In the lawsuit presented before Reyes, the plaintiffs contended that the order was unlawful, referencing a 2020 U.S. Supreme Court decision that determined discrimination against transgender individuals constitutes illegal sex discrimination.
The administration’s legal representatives have argued in court that the military has the right to exclude individuals with specific conditions deemed incompatible with service, including bipolar disorder and eating disorders. During a hearing on March 12, they urged Reyes to respect the current administration’s assessment that transgender individuals are unfit for military service.
