Official announcements from the Department of Defense or U.S. Government publications

Trump to Sign Orders Banning Transgender Service, Eliminating DEI, Reinstating Discharged Members with Back Pay

Jan 27, 2025, 02:25 PM

President Donald Trump is set to sign three executive orders on Monday that will significantly impact the U.S. military. The first order will ban transgender individuals from serving in the military, citing issues with mental and physical readiness, and will outline new military standards regarding gender pronouns. It notes that it can take a minimum of 12 months for an individual to complete treatments after transition surgery, which often involves the use of heavy narcotics, making them not physically capable of meeting military readiness requirements. The second order will eliminate Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs within the military, following Trump's campaign promise to remove what he considers discriminatory practices. The third order aims to reinstate service members who were discharged for refusing the Covid-19 vaccine, offering them back pay and benefits. This move affects approximately 8,000 service members. These orders come after Pete Hegseth was sworn in as Secretary of Defense with a Senate vote of 51-50, who has vowed to implement cultural changes to the military, including ending DEI practices and removing 'woke' service members. Estimates suggest there are around 15,000 transgender members in the military.