Latest news with #BreeFram
Daily Mail
29 minutes ago
- Politics
- Daily Mail
Trans military colonel issues defiant message after being booted from post as Donald Trump ban takes effect
A transgender military official has spoken out after being placed on administrative leave as part of the Trump administration's ban on trans troops. Colonel Bree Fram, who came out as transgender in 2016 when the initial ban on trans troops was lifted, was an astronautical engineer in the U.S. Space Force and was the Pentagon 's division chief for requirements integration. She posted to Instagram on Friday saying 'I have been officially placed on administrative leave, effective tomorrow, pending separation' after the Supreme Court ruled the ban could go ahead. Fram - whose profile picture on the social media app is an LGBT rainbow version of the Space Force logo - defiantly spoke of sobbing as she pinned medals on three of 'my folks' in her last official act in service. She wrote: 'The last salute broke my heart in two and the tears flowed freely even as I have so much to be thankful for and so many amazing memories.' Fram detailed the day she came out in 2016, telling a story of how her colleagues responded to the announcement by shaking her hand and, one by one, saying: 'It's an honor to serve with you.' She also spoke about a similar experience last week, when she announced at a joint staff meeting that she was leaving and that she no longer met 'the current standard for military excellence and readiness'. She said: 'A room full of senior leaders, admirals and generals, walked over to me and the scene from 2016 repeated. They offered those same words, now tinged with the sadness of past tense: "It's been an honor to serve with you".' She added that she walked away with tears in her eyes because Fram felt that it had been her honor all along. She wrote: 'It has been the honor of a lifetime to serve this nation and defend the freedoms and opportunities we have as Americans. My wildest dreams came true wearing this uniform.' In the past six months, Fram had been posting photos of her fellow transgender troops on Instagram listing their accomplishment with the tagline: 'Happens to Be Trans.' Fram told Stars And Stripes that her work recently had been focused on 'defining the future capabilities that we're going to need to win wars far into the future'. She added that her Instagram post was an attempt to speak on behalf of her fellow transgender soldiers. She said: 'It is almost a duty and an obligation to speak on their behalf because it is my privilege to do so and to hopefully represent transgender service members well that do not have the privilege that comes along with the rank and the experience that I do. 'If I don't speak for them and they are unable to speak for themselves, who will speak for them?' In early May, the Supreme Court ruled that President Trump 's ban on troops with gender dysphoria can stand. The Supreme Court's ruling lifts a lower court's decision to pause Trump's policy, which the administration called 'dramatic and facially unfair '. The order allows the Department Of Defense to continue removing trans service members from the military and denying enlistment while lawsuits continue in the lower courts.. On January 20, President Trump signed an executive order ordering Pete Hegseth to enact a ban on 'individuals with gender dysphoria' serving in the U.S. military. District Judge Benjamin Settle in Washington state ruled that the ban violated the Constitution's guarantee of equal protection and barred the government from enforcing Trump's policy. The Trump administration appealed to the U.S. Court Of Appeals for the 9th Circuit but it was rejected, prompting them to appeal to the Supreme Court. Trump's lawyers argued that the ruling was 'contrary to military readiness and the Nation's interests'. The liberal justices - Sonia Sotomayor, Elena Kagan and Ketanji Brown Jackson - would have decided against Trump, they indicated in the filing, but the Supreme Court ruling was not signed. The ruling was an emergency appeal prompting an unusually swift ruling from the Supreme Court justices, although they can rule on the merits of the case at a later date. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt celebrated the news in a statement. She wrote: 'Another MASSIVE victory in the Supreme Court! President Trump and Secretary Pete Hegseth are restoring a military that is focused on readiness and lethality - not DEI or woke gender ideology.' The ban enacted by the Department Of Defense on February 26 detailed that 'the medical, surgical, and mental health constraints on individuals who have a current diagnosis or history of, or exhibit symptoms with, gender dysphoria are incompatible with the high mental and physical standards necessary for military service'. The level challenge to the order was filed by Commander Emily Shilling, together with six other current transgender service members and one transgender person who wants to join the military. Schilling appeared at the LGBT Community Center dinner on April 10 to be honored for the legal fight against the president and his administration. Schilling said: 'I swore an oath to support and defend the constitution. That oath requires obedience to lawful orders. But when an order undermines the very principles I swore to uphold, I have the responsibility to challenge it.' Shortly after he was inaugurated in 2021, Joe Biden signed an executive order overturning Trump's initial ban on service of transgender individuals in the military. After Trump was inaugurated he ordered the ban to be reinstated. Trump and Hegseth view the extra care required for transgender service members to be a distraction to military readiness. In February, Hegseth ordered a pause on gender-transitioning medical procedures for active duty service members. His memo said: 'Effective immediately, all new accessions for individuals with a history of gender dysphoria are paused, and all unscheduled, scheduled, or planned medical procedures associated with affirming or facilitating a gender transition for Service members are paused.'
Daily Mail
8 hours ago
- Politics
- Daily Mail
Trans military colonel issues defiant message after being booted from post as Trump ban takes effect
One of the military's highest ranking transgender officials is speaking out after being placed on administrative leave as part of the Trump administration's ban on trans troops. Colonel Bree Fram, who came out as transgender in 2016 when the initial ban on trans troops was lifted, was an astronautical engineer in the US Space Force and was the Pentagon 's division chief for requirements integration. She posted to Instagram Friday saying 'I have been officially placed on administrative leave, effective tomorrow, pending separation' after the Supreme Court ruled the ban could go ahead. Fram - whose profile picture on the social media app is an LGBT rainbow version of the Space Force logo - defiantly spoke of sobbing as she pinned medals on three of 'my folks' in her last official act in service. 'The last salute broke my heart in two and the tears flowed freely even as I have so much to be thankful for and so many amazing memories.' Fram detailed the day she came out in 2016, telling a story of how her teammates responded to the announcement by shaking her hand and, one by one, saying: 'It's an honor to serve with you.' She also spoke about a similar experience last week, when she announced at a joint staff meeting that she was leaving and that she no longer met 'the current standard for military excellence and readiness.' 'A room full of senior leaders, admirals and generals, walked over to me and the scene from 2016 repeated. They offered those same words, now tinged with the sadness of past tense: 'It's been an honor to serve with you',' she said. She added that she walked away with tears in her eyes because Fram felt that it had been her honor all along. 'It has been the honor of a lifetime to serve this nation and defend the freedoms and opportunities we have as Americans. My wildest dreams came true wearing this uniform.' In the past six months, Fram had been posting photos of her fellow transgender troops on Instagram listing their accomplishment with the tagline: 'Happens to Be Trans.' Fram told Stars and Stripes that, most recently, her work had been focused on 'defining the future capabilities that we're going to need to win wars far into the future.' She added that her Instagram post was an attempt to speak on behalf of her fellow transgender soldiers. 'It is almost a duty and an obligation to speak on their behalf because it is my privilege to do so and to hopefully represent transgender service members well that do not have the privilege that comes along with the rank and the experience that I do,' she said. 'If I don't speak for them and they are unable to speak for themselves, who will speak for them?' In early May, the Supreme Court ruled that Donald Trump 's ban on troops with gender dysphoria can stand. The Supreme Court's ruling lifts a lower court's decision to pause Trump's policy, which the administration called 'dramatic and facially unfair.' The order allows the Department of Defense to continue removing transgender service members from the military and denying enlistment while lawsuits continue in the lower courts.. On January 20, President Trump signed an executive order ordering Hegseth to enact a ban on 'individuals with gender dysphoria' serving in the U.S. military. District Judge Benjamin Settle in Washington state ruled that the ban violated the Constitution's guarantee of equal protection and barred the government from enforcing Trump's policy. The Trump administration appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit but it was rejected, prompting them to appeal to the Supreme Court. Trump's lawyers argued that the ruling was 'contrary to military readiness and the Nation's interests.' The liberal justices - Sonia Sotomayor, Elena Kagan and Ketanji Brown Jackson - would have decided against Trump, they indicated in the filing, but the Supreme Court ruling was not signed. The ruling was an emergency appeal prompting an unusually swift ruling from the Supreme Court justices, although they can rule on the merits of the case at a later date. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt celebrated the news in a statement. 'Another MASSIVE victory in the Supreme Court!' she wrote. 'President Trump and Secretary Pete Hegseth are restoring a military that is focused on readiness and lethality – not DEI or woke gender ideology.' The ban enacted by the Department of Defense on February 26 detailed that 'the medical, surgical, and mental health constraints on individuals who have a current diagnosis or history of, or exhibit symptoms with, gender dysphoria are incompatible with the high mental and physical standards necessary for military service.' The level challenge to the order was filed by Commander Emily Shilling, together with six other current transgender service members and one transgender person who wants to join the military. Schilling appeared at the LGBT Community Center dinner on April 10 to be honored for the legal fight against the president and his administration. 'I swore an oath to support and defend the onstitution,' Schilling said. 'That oath requires obedience to lawful orders. But when an order undermines the very principles I swore to uphold, I have the responsibility to challenge it.' Shortly after he was inaugurated in 2021, President Joe Biden signed an executive order overturning Trump's initial ban on service of transgender individuals in the military. After Trump was inaugurated he ordered the ban to be reinstated. Trump and Hegseth view the extra care required for transgender service members to be a distraction to military readiness. In February, Hegseth ordered a pause on gender-transitioning medical procedures for active duty service members. 'Effective immediately, all new accessions for individuals with a history of gender dysphoria are paused, and all unscheduled, scheduled, or planned medical procedures associated with affirming or facilitating a gender transition for Service members are paused,' his memo said.
Yahoo
10-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Military Colonel: Hegseth comments on transgender soldiers are ‘factually untrue'
The Pentagon announced plans to immediately remove transgender service members, after the Supreme Court upheld Trump's ban on trans people serving in the military. Transgender Colonel Bree Fram joins The Weekend to discuss.
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Service members face uncertainty after Supreme Court allows Trump to enforce transgender military ban
WASHINGTON (DC News Now) — The U.S. Supreme Court ruled Tuesday that the Trump administration can now enforce its transgender military ban. It comes after months of litigation, but the fight isn't over yet. Active duty members and veterans told DC News Now the news is devastating, but they'll continue doing their jobs until they're told otherwise. The Trump administration has said that having transgender troops is harmful to military readiness. Trump asks Supreme Court to allow ban on transgender members of the military to take effect, for now In late February, the Department of Defense said transgender service members were to be removed within 60 days, in line with President Trump's executive order. Multiple court cases delayed that until Tuesday. 'When the Supreme Court ruled, I and thousands of other transgender service members were doing our duty,' said Space Force Col. Bree Fram. 'I was helping define the future of our military's capability in space. And thousands of others were doing exactly what this government has asked of them.' Fram spoke with DC News Now in her personal capacity and stated that her views do not necessarily reflect those of the Department of Defense or the U.S. government. 'We feel a bit unwanted, despite years of service and dedication to this nation, where we have succeeded based on our merits,' Fram said. Lindsay Church, a transgender Navy veteran and executive director of Minority Veterans of America, said it's causing a lot of distress for trans service members. 'People don't know where they're going to live, whether or not they're going to have a job, whether or not they're going to have health care,' Church said. Church said lower court rulings have shown the ban isn't about merit. 'If you can't find cases or reasons why transgender service members should be kicked out, you have to go into their medical records, it goes to prove a point that transgender service members are not a detraction or a distraction from our military readiness,' Church said. PREVIOUS COVERAGE: 'They are so incredibly resilient and capable': Transgender col. pushes back on Pentagon order to remove transgender troops Fram said the policy will cause real harm while court cases play out. 'It's a struggle to figure out — how do we move forward? But we are going to and until we can't, we're going to put on the uniform and accomplish the mission,' Fram said. 'I have served my nation in uniform for over 22 years. I do not plan for that service to end, whether in uniform or not.' The Department of Defense said Tuesday that officials are currently determining the next steps. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth posted on X Tuesday, 'No More Trans @ DoD.' During a speech before the ruling, he said, 'We are leaving wokeness and weakness behind. No more pronouns, no more climate change obsession, no more emergency vaccine mandates, no more dudes in dresses. We're done with that s—.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | DC, Virginia, Maryland News, Weather, Traffic, Sports Live.
CBS News
07-05-2025
- Politics
- CBS News
Military officer speaks out after Supreme Court allows revived transgender ban to be enforced
Space Force Col. Bree Fram is one of an estimated 15,000 transgender troops currently serving in the U.S. military whose jobs could now be in jeopardy. On Tuesday, the Supreme Court allowed a Trump administration policy that bars transgender people from serving in the military. The high court's decision follows several challenges from lower courts that blocked the administration from implementing the revised ban nationwide. "I know at my core what I stand for and I believe in the ideals of America and the oath that I swore to defend," said Col. Bree Fram, who will be the Grand Marshal of the Annapolis Pride Parade on May 31. Military veteran After 18 years in the U.S. Air Force, plus four years and counting in the Space Force, Col. Fram has dedicated her life to serving her country. But the decision by the Supreme Court to allow the Trump administration's efforts to ban transgender people in the military brings into question whether her country can support her in return. "When that ruling came out, I and thousands of other transgender service members were doing the jobs and the missions that the military had assigned to us," said Col. Fram. "We have a lot of work to do" In January, President Donald Trump signed an executive order that targeted active and prospective service members with gender dysphoria, quoting the military's "high standards for troop readiness, lethality, cohesion, honesty, humility, uniformity and integrity." He went on to say, "Medical, surgical, and mental health constraints on individuals with gender dysphoria" are not consistent with those standards. "It really shows we have a lot of work to do to make sure that all members of the LGBTQ+ community are seen as actual humans. Because at its core, what this administration is trying to do is separate individual pieces of our community and really strip away people's humanity, and we're seeing that through this decision made today," said Joe Troolan, the chair of Annapolis Pride. Example-setter at Annapolis Pride Parade Toolan said he chose Col. Fram to be a Grand Marshal in the Annapolis Pride Parade and Festival to show a perfect example of a top-ranking officer in the US Military who lives as her authentic self. "She's just like all of us. She's trying to serve this country, she's trying to make this country a better place," Troolan said. Col. Fram says that despite this ruling, she's going to keep fighting to make the country more inclusive. "I've served over 22 years in uniform, and if there's one thing I can guarantee, whether it's in uniform or not, my time of service is not done," said Col. Fram. Col. Fram says she will do her job every day to the best of her ability until she's no longer able or allowed to. She hopes to inspire other trans people at the Pride Parade in Annapolis that trans people are just as capable of serving as anyone else in uniform.
