However, a 2020 study found that only up to 8,000 transgender people served on active duty in the U.S. military. That's out of 1.3 million that were estimated to serve globally that year, or less than 1 percent. The actual number could be far higher as many service members may not disclose their transgender identity due to social stigma.

A federal judge has blocked enforcement of President Donald Trump’s executive order banning transgender people from military service, the latest in a string of legal setbacks for his sweeping agenda.