• Frequently Asked Questions

  Policy Highlights and FAQ for CCI 222.01, “Transgender Public Health Service Officers”

  Policy Highlights

  • Transgender identity is not a relevant factor in determining an individual’s appointment to or continued eligibility for service in the USPHS Commissioned Corps.
  • The USPHS Commissioned Corps will treat information related to an individual’s transgender identity with the appropriate sensitivity and keep it confidential.
  • Officers seeking to transition must obtain a diagnosis from a medical provider stating that a gender transition is medically necessary. After receiving a diagnosis, officers must collaborate with their medical provider to develop a medical treatment plan.
  • Officers do not need a court‑ordered name or gender change in order to change the name the officer uses at work due to transgender or gender identity.
  • If, as a result of their medical treatment during the period of transition, officers cannot meet Annual Physical Fitness Test (APFT) standards or uniform and grooming standards, they can request a medical waiver.
  • It is impermissible discrimination to limit the access of an officer who is transgender to a single-user restroom in places where a common-access restroom is available. Officers who are transgender must be permitted to use restrooms that align with their gender identity.
  • Officers who practice gender identity discrimination within their workplaces and/or within the scope of their employment are subject to disciplinary action in accordance with CCD 111.02, “Disciplinary Action.”
  • In a deployment setting with gender segregated sleeping/housing arrangements, officers may choose the sleeping/housing arrangements that align with their chosen gender identity.

  Can individuals who are transgender serve in the USPHS Commissioned Corps?

  Yes. Transgender identity is not a relevant factor in determining an individual’s appointment to or continued eligibility for service in the USPHS Commissioned Corps.

  How do Public Health Service (PHS) officers transition genders while serving in the USPHS Commissioned Corps?

  PHS officers seeking to transition must first obtain a diagnosis from a medical provider stating that a gender transition is medically necessary. After receiving a diagnosis, officers must collaborate with their medical provider to develop a medical treatment plan. Officers then must inform Medical Affairs Branch (MAB) of their medical diagnosis and treatment plan (as well as any changes to the treatment plan) and provide MAB with the appropriate supporting documentation. After an officer completes the gender transition, they are still required to complete all necessary medical evaluations needed to meet medical readiness requirements.

  How do officers who are transgender change their gender marker in the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System (DEERS)?

  Once an officer and their medical provider determine it is appropriate to change the officer’s gender marker in DEERS (as documented by their medical provider) the officer must obtain and produce documentation (e.g., passport, birth certificate, or court order, that reflect the officer’s new gender identity). Once the DEERS gender marker is changed, the officer must adhere to all USPHS Commissioned Corps standards and requirements (including readiness, uniform, and grooming) associated with the new gender marker. Additional information may be obtained directly from DEERS.

  What accommodations will the USPHS Commissioned Corps make for an officer who is transgender?

  Officers can change the name and pronoun usage they use at work due to transgender or gender identity without needing a court order or gender change. Official records (e.g., those pertaining to payroll, retirement accounts, official personnel records, or official government identification tags) require legal documentation (such as a name change order) before the name can be changed in the records. If, as a result of their medical treatment during the period of transition, officers cannot meet Annual Physical Fitness Test (APFT) standards or uniform and grooming standards, they can request a medical waiver.

  What is the Workplace Transition Process?

  Officers who are transgender and are seeking changes in the workplace associated with a transition that require supervisory assistance (such as for name, pronoun usage, or records changes) must notify their supervisor and their USPHS Commissioned Corps liaison.

  What will the USPHS Commissioned Corps do to prevent gender identity discrimination?

  The USPHS Commissioned Corps does not tolerate discrimination of any type. Officers who practice gender identity discrimination will be subject to disciplinary action in accordance with CCD 111.02, “Disciplinary Action.” The USPHS Commissioned Corps will treat information related to an individual’s transgender identity with the appropriate sensitivity and keep it confidential to the extent required by all applicable federal laws, regulations, and policies.

  How do PHS officers report gender identity or transgender identity discrimination?

  Officers who experience gender identity or transgender discrimination should file a complaint in accordance with CCI 211.03, “Equal Opportunity:  Discrimination Complaints Processing.”

  Last Updated: 2/24/22
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