In a new flashpoint between the judiciary and the Trump administration, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has publicly mocked federal judge Ana Reyes for blocking President Donald Trump's executive order banning transgender individuals from serving in the military. Reyes, appointed by former President Joe Biden, ruled that the January 27 order likely violated constitutional protections of equal rights.

Hegseth, a former Fox News host and military veteran, took to social media to deride Reyes, sarcastically dubbing her “Commander Reyes” and suggesting she was overstepping her judicial role. He wrote, “Since ‘Judge’ Reyes is now a top military planner, she/they can report to Fort Benning at 0600 to instruct our Army Rangers on how to execute High Value Target Raids.” He added that she could later head to Fort Bragg to coach Green Berets on counterinsurgency warfare.

His comments came amid rising tensions between Trump’s administration and the federal judiciary. Over 100 lawsuits have been filed challenging Trump’s recent policies. Judges, many of them issuing nationwide injunctions, have become frequent targets of attacks from Trump, Attorney General Pam Bondi, billionaire adviser Elon Musk, and now Hegseth.

The judiciary's resistance to key Trump initiatives—such as curtailing birthright citizenship and the transgender troop ban—has led to escalating rhetoric. Just last week, Trump called for the impeachment of another federal judge overseeing deportation-related litigation, prompting a rare rebuke from the U.S. Supreme Court’s chief justice.

Hegseth has championed culture war issues since taking charge at the Pentagon, including abolishing diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs and ending transgender military service. Shortly after assuming office, he and Trump removed General CQ Brown—the military’s first Black Joint Chiefs chair—and the Navy’s first female top admiral, both decisions sparking controversy. Hegseth had previously questioned whether Brown was appointed due to his race.

Following the executive order, the military announced it would no longer admit transgender recruits, halt gender-affirming medical treatments, and begin discharging currently serving transgender individuals. This decision prompted immediate legal action. Plaintiffs argued that the ban violated a 2020 U.S. Supreme Court decision affirming that discrimination against transgender individuals is a form of illegal sex discrimination.

During a March 12 hearing, government lawyers defended the policy, asserting that the military has the right to exclude individuals with certain medical or psychological conditions, citing bipolar disorder and eating disorders as parallels. They argued Judge Reyes should defer to the administration’s judgment on personnel fitness.

As tensions between the Trump administration and the judiciary continue to rise, concerns are also growing over the safety of judges and the erosion of judicial independence. The outcome of these legal battles may have far-reaching implications for civil rights and the balance of power in the U.S. government.