U.S. District Judge Ana Reyes pressed U.S. Attorney Jason Lynch, who is defending the administration, about the January directive, which sought to “prioritize military excellence and readiness” by prohibiting transgender people from serving or enlisting.

U.S. District Judge Ana Reyes said that the Trump administration's broad effort to decrease the visibility of transgender people in society, including removed references to trans people at the Stonewall National Monument,

A federal judge sparred with the Justice Department over the breadth of President Trump’s executive order effectively barring transgender people from serving openly in the military during a contentious hearing Tuesday over whether to block the ban indefinitely.

Judge Ana Reyes was hearing arguments as part of a lawsuit filed by two LGBTQ+ advocacy groups on behalf of several transgender service members and recruits.