Pentagon seeks to block court order allowing HIV-positive military recruits
The Pentagon has filed a motion to block a June 2 appeals court order that would allow asymptomatic HIV-positive individuals with controlled viral loads to enlist in the U.S. military. The case, *Wilkins v. Hegseth*, follows a 2024 ruling that advances in HIV treatment permit qualified civilians to serve. The Defense Department argues a universal injunction would disrupt recruitment, while plaintiffs contend antiviral medications make them fit for duty. The DoD screened 7 million service members from 2020–2025, identifying 1,463 as HIV-positive.
Cross-source coverage
Wire timeline
Pentagon seeks to block court order allowing HIV-positive recruits to enlist
The Department of Defense has filed a motion to block a June 2 court order from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit that would allow asymptomatic HIV-positive individuals with controlled viral loads to enlist or commission into the U.S. military. The case, Wilkins v. Hegseth, stems from a 2024 ruling by Judge Leonie Brinkema that advances in HIV treatment and prior court rulings permitting infected personnel to serve and deploy should extend to recruits. The Pentagon argues that applying the injunction universally would disrupt military recruitment operations. The plaintiffs, including Isaiah Wilkins and two unnamed individuals, contend that antiviral medications render them fit for service. The Defense Department screened approximately 7 million service members from 2020 to 2025, identifying 1,463 as HIV-positive. The appeals court is now considering whether to reinstate a stay on the ruling.
Marine Corps TimesPentagon fights court order allowing HIV-positive recruits to enlist
The Pentagon has filed a motion to block a June 2 court order from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit that would allow asymptomatic HIV-positive individuals with controlled viral loads to enlist or commission into the U.S. military. The case, Wilkins v. Hegseth, stems from a 2024 ruling by Judge Leonie Brinkema that advances in HIV treatment and prior court rulings permitting HIV-positive service members to deploy should extend to new recruits. The Fourth Circuit had previously imposed a stay on new enlistments, but lifted it in May 2026 when the case was set for a full panel hearing. The Defense Department argues that applying the injunction universally would disrupt military recruitment operations. Plaintiffs, including Isaiah Wilkins, argue that antiviral medications render their HIV undetectable and that they should be allowed to serve. The Pentagon screened roughly 7 million service members from 2020 to 2025, identifying 1,463 as HIV-positive.
Navy TimesPentagon fights court order allowing HIV-positive individuals to enlist in US military
The Pentagon has filed a motion to block a June 2 court order from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit that would allow recruits with asymptomatic, controlled HIV to enlist or commission into the U.S. military. The case, Wilkins v. Hegseth, stems from a 2024 ruling by Judge Leonie Brinkema that advances in HIV treatment should permit civilians with controlled viral loads to serve. The Defense Department appealed, and a three-judge panel initially reversed the ruling, but the full appeals court later lifted the stay. Pentagon attorneys argue that applying the injunction universally would disrupt military recruitment operations. Plaintiffs, including Isaiah Wilkins and two unnamed individuals, argue that antiviral medications keep their viral loads undetectable, similar to HIV-positive service members already allowed to deploy. The DoD screened roughly 7 million service members from 2020 to 2025, identifying 1,463 as HIV-positive.
Military TimesPentagon seeks to block court order allowing HIV-positive recruits to enlist
The Department of Defense has filed a motion to block a June 2 court order from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit that would allow asymptomatic HIV-positive individuals with controlled viral loads to enlist or commission into the U.S. military. The case, Wilkins v. Hegseth, stems from a 2024 ruling by Judge Leonie Brinkema that advances in HIV treatment and prior court rulings permit HIV-positive civilians to serve. The Pentagon argues that applying the injunction universally would disrupt military recruitment operations. The plaintiffs, including Isaiah Wilkins and two unnamed individuals, contend that antiviral medications render their HIV undetectable and non-transmissible. The Defense Department screened 7 million service members from 2020 to 2025, identifying 1,463 as HIV-positive. The court is now considering whether to reinstate a stay on the injunction.
Marine Corps TimesPentagon fights court order allowing HIV-positive recruits to enlist
The Pentagon has filed a motion to block a June 2 court order from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit that would allow asymptomatic HIV-positive individuals with controlled viral loads to enlist or commission into the U.S. military. The case, Wilkins v. Hegseth, stems from a 2024 ruling by Judge Leonie Brinkema that advances in HIV treatment should permit qualified civilians to serve. The Defense Department appealed, and a three-judge panel initially reversed the ruling, but the full appeals court lifted the stay in May. Pentagon attorneys argue that applying the injunction universally would disrupt military recruitment operations. Plaintiffs, including Isaiah Wilkins, argue that antiviral medications keep viral loads undetectable and that similar suits have allowed HIV-positive service members to remain in the military. The Defense Department screened roughly 7 million service members from 2020 to 2025, identifying 1,463 as HIV-positive.
Army TimesPentagon Seeks to Block Court Order Allowing HIV-Positive Military Recruits
The Department of Defense has filed a motion to block a June 2 court order from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit that would allow asymptomatic HIV-positive individuals with controlled viral loads to enlist or commission into the U.S. military. The case, Wilkins v. Hegseth, stems from a 2024 ruling by Judge Leonie Brinkema that advances in HIV treatment and prior court rulings permitting infected personnel to serve and deploy should extend to new recruits. The Pentagon argues that applying the injunction universally would disrupt military recruitment operations. The plaintiffs, including Isaiah Wilkins and two unnamed individuals, contend that antiviral medications render their viral loads undetectable and that similar suits have allowed HIV-positive troops to remain in service. The Defense Department screened approximately 7 million service members from 2020 to 2025, identifying 1,463 as HIV-positive.
Air Force TimesPentagon fights court order allowing HIV-positive recruits to enlist
The Pentagon has filed a motion to block a June 2 court order from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit that would allow asymptomatic HIV-positive individuals with controlled viral loads to enlist or commission into the U.S. military. The case, Wilkins v. Hegseth, stems from a 2024 ruling by Judge Leonie Brinkema that advances in HIV treatment and prior court decisions permitting HIV-positive troops to serve and deploy should extend to new recruits. The Fourth Circuit initially stayed that ruling in December 2024 but lifted the stay in May 2026, prompting the Pentagon to seek reinstatement. The Defense Department argues that applying the injunction universally would disrupt recruitment operations. Plaintiffs, including Isaiah Wilkins, contend that antiviral medications render them fit for service. The military has long cited transmission risks from blood exposure. Since 2020, 1,463 HIV-positive individuals were identified among roughly 7 million service members screened.
Military TimesPentagon seeks to block court order allowing HIV-positive recruits to enlist
The Department of Defense has filed a motion to block a June 2 court order from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit that would allow asymptomatic HIV-positive individuals with controlled viral loads to enlist or commission into the U.S. military. The case, Wilkins v. Hegseth, stems from a 2024 ruling by Judge Leonie Brinkema that advances in HIV treatment and prior court rulings should permit civilians with controlled HIV to serve. The Pentagon argues that applying the injunction universally would disrupt military recruitment operations. The plaintiffs, including Isaiah Wilkins and two unnamed individuals, argue that antiviral medications render them fit for service. The Defense Department screened roughly 7 million service members from 2020 to 2025, identifying 1,463 as HIV-positive. The court is now considering whether to reinstate a stay on the ruling while the case proceeds.
Marine Corps TimesPentagon Challenges Court Order Allowing HIV-Positive Military Recruits
The U.S. Department of Defense has filed a motion to block a June 2 court order from the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals that would allow asymptomatic HIV-positive individuals with controlled viral loads to enlist or commission into the military. The case, Wilkins v. Hegseth, stems from a 2024 ruling by Judge Leonie Brinkema that advances in HIV treatment should permit qualified civilians to serve. The Pentagon argues that applying the injunction universally would disrupt military recruitment operations. The plaintiffs, including Isaiah Wilkins and two unnamed individuals, contend that antiviral medications make them fit for service, citing previous rulings allowing HIV-positive troops to remain in service and deploy. The Defense Department has long cited concerns about blood-borne transmission in combat or medical settings. The court's full panel will hear the case, with the Pentagon seeking to reinstate a stay on new enlistments.
Air Force TimesPentagon fights court order allowing HIV-positive recruits to enlist
The Pentagon has filed a motion to block a June 2 court order from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit that would allow asymptomatic HIV-positive individuals with controlled viral loads to enlist or commission into the U.S. military. The case, Wilkins v. Hegseth, stems from a 2024 ruling by Judge Leonie Brinkema that advances in HIV treatment should permit qualified civilians to serve. The Defense Department argues that lifting the stay would disrupt military recruitment operations and impose an improper burden. Plaintiffs, including Isaiah Wilkins and two unnamed individuals, contend that antiviral medications keep their viral loads undetectable, similar to HIV-positive service members already allowed to remain in uniform. The Pentagon had stopped processing HIV-positive recruits in January 2025 after a previous stay. The appeals court is now considering the case before a full panel of judges.
Army TimesPentagon fights court order allowing HIV-positive individuals to enlist in US military
The Pentagon has filed a motion to block a June 2 court order from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit that would allow asymptomatic HIV-positive individuals with controlled viral loads to enlist or commission into the U.S. military. The case, Wilkins v. Hegseth, involves plaintiff Isaiah Wilkins and two unnamed HIV-positive individuals who were denied service. In 2024, a district court ruled that advances in HIV treatment should permit qualified civilians to serve, but the Defense Department appealed. A three-judge panel initially reversed that ruling, but the full appeals court later lifted the stay. The Pentagon now seeks to reinstate the stay, arguing that a universal injunction would disrupt military recruitment operations. The Defense Department previously screened 7 million service members from 2020 to 2025, identifying 1,463 as HIV-positive. Plaintiffs' attorneys welcomed the court's decision, calling it 'great news' for those with HIV wishing to serve.
Army TimesPentagon fights court order allowing HIV-positive recruits to enlist
The Pentagon has filed a motion to block a June 2 court order from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit that would allow asymptomatic HIV-positive individuals with controlled viral loads to enlist or commission into the U.S. military. The case, Wilkins v. Hegseth, stems from a 2024 ruling by Judge Leonie Brinkema that advances in HIV treatment should permit qualified civilians to serve. The Defense Department appealed, and a three-judge panel initially reversed the ruling, but the full appeals court later lifted the stay. Pentagon attorneys argue that applying the injunction universally would disrupt military recruitment operations. Plaintiffs, including Isaiah Wilkins, argue that antiviral medications make them fit for service, citing prior rulings allowing HIV-positive troops to remain in service and deploy. The DoD screened 7 million service members from 2020 to 2025, identifying 1,463 as HIV-positive.
Navy TimesPentagon fights court order allowing HIV-positive recruits to enlist
The Pentagon has filed a motion to block a June 2 court order from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit that would allow asymptomatic HIV-positive individuals with controlled viral loads to enlist or commission into the U.S. military. The case, Wilkins v. Hegseth, stems from a 2024 ruling by Judge Leonie Brinkema that advances in HIV treatment should permit qualified civilians to serve. The Defense Department appealed, and a three-judge panel initially reversed the ruling, but the full appeals court later lifted the stay. Pentagon attorneys argue that applying the injunction universally would disrupt military recruitment operations. Plaintiffs, including Isaiah Wilkins, argue that antiviral medications render them fit for service, citing prior rulings allowing HIV-positive troops to remain in service and deploy. The DoD screened roughly 7 million service members from 2020 to 2025, identifying 1,463 as HIV-positive.
Navy TimesPentagon fights court order allowing HIV-positive individuals to enlist in military
The Pentagon has filed a motion to block a June 2 court order from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit that would allow asymptomatic HIV-positive individuals with controlled viral loads to enlist or commission into the U.S. military. The case, Wilkins v. Hegseth, stems from a 2024 ruling by Judge Leonie Brinkema that advances in HIV treatment should permit qualified civilians to serve. The Defense Department argues that applying the injunction universally would disrupt military recruitment operations. The plaintiffs, including Isaiah Wilkins, argue that antiviral medications keep their viral loads undetectable, and that similar suits have allowed HIV-positive service members to remain in the military and deploy. The appeals court lifted a previous stay, prompting the Pentagon's request for reinstatement.
Military TimesPentagon Seeks to Block Court Order Allowing HIV-Positive Recruits to Enlist
The U.S. Department of Defense has filed a motion to block a June 2 court order from the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals that would allow asymptomatic HIV-positive individuals with controlled viral loads to enlist or commission into the military. The case, Wilkins v. Hegseth, stems from a 2024 ruling by Judge Leonie Brinkema that advances in HIV treatment and prior court decisions permitting infected personnel to serve and deploy should extend to new recruits. The Pentagon argues that a universal injunction would disrupt military recruitment operations and impose an improper burden. The plaintiffs, including Isaiah Wilkins and two unnamed individuals, contend that antiviral medications render their HIV undetectable and that similar suits have allowed affected service members to remain in uniform. The Defense Department screened approximately 7 million service members from 2020 to 2025, identifying 1,463 as HIV-positive. The appeals court is now considering whether to reinstate a stay on the injunction.
Air Force Times