Final answer:
The transgender policy for the U.S. military has seen significant changes from 2015 to 2021, shifting from allowing transgender service members to serve openly, to attempted restrictions reinstated by President Trump in 2017, and then to the lifting of restrictions and provision of medical support for gender transition by the Biden administration in 2021.
Step-by-step explanation:
The transgender policy for Physical Fitness Assessments (PFAs) has evolved over time within the U.S. armed forces. Starting in 2015, the Obama administration lifted a longstanding ban allowing transgender individuals to serve openly in the military. This decision was challenged in 2017 when President Trump sought to reinstate the ban via tweets. However, legal challenges prevented the ban's reinstatement, thus enabling transgender individuals to enlist. Despite this, the Department of Defense, by 2019, adopted policies that effectively restricted transgender individuals from enlisting or serving. These policies were later reviewed and altered following the initiation of the Biden administration in 2021, which announced the end to restrictions on military service by transgender individuals.
These changes illustrate the fluctuating landscape of transgender rights within the armed forces, reflecting wider societal debates on issues of gender identity and the rights of transgender individuals in various contexts, including employment, healthcare access, and legal protections from discrimination.