Gender-diverse Australian navy recruits are currently unable to begin a career in nuclear submarines because they would not be able to train on US boats, according to internal Australian defence force documents. The documents, released under freedom of information laws, show that transgender and non-binary sailors and officers are explicitly banned from Australia’s nuclear submarine training programme due to US policies.
An internal defence briefing stated that while Australian Defence Force (ADF) policy on equality and inclusion remains unchanged, US government policy differs. ADF personnel undertaking duty or training in the US are required to comply with US policy, meaning transgender and non-binary ADF personnel and applicants cannot commence the nuclear-powered attack submarine (SSN) training pathway.
Rear Adm Tish van Stralen, a high-ranking woman in the Australian navy, confirmed that potential recruits for the nuclear submarine programme are informed that the ADF is subject to policies and laws in other countries. She added that the navy has a duty of care to its people and would not put them in harm's way. Van Stralen also mentioned that training opportunities "may arise in the UK," which has "more liberal policies" as Australia's other Aukus partner.
The US defence secretary, Pete Hegseth, last year issued a directive to eliminate diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives and has sought to ban transgender personnel from joining the US military. Former President Donald Trump signed an executive order in January 2025 banning transgender service personnel, stating gender-diverse people were unfit to serve.
Australia plans to buy three Virginia-class nuclear submarines from the US starting in 2032 under the Aukus deal. Hundreds of Australian sailors and officers are currently training on US nuclear submarines and at US bases in preparation for this.