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President Donald Trump is expected to sign three executive orders reshaping the US military. These orders include banning transgender service members, eliminating Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs, and reinstating unvaccinated service members discharged during the Covid-19 pandemic, according to White House officials.
The anticipated orders follow the swearing-in of Pete Hegseth as secretary of defense on Saturday.
Hegseth, a longtime advocate of cultural changes in the military, has pledged to end DEI practices and address what he calls "woke" policies in the armed forces. These actions align with Trump’s broader vision of restructuring the military's internal dynamics.
This move marks a return to Trump’s earlier stance on transgender troops. In 2017, he banned transgender Americans from serving in the military, a decision reversed by President Joe Biden in 2021.
Just hours into his second term, Trump revoked Biden’s 2021 policy, reinstating restrictions on transgender service. The forthcoming executive order reportedly goes further by introducing new military standards related to gender pronouns and defining readiness requirements.
One official explained that transgender individuals undergoing transition surgery may face physical and mental readiness challenges.
Recovery often requires heavy medications and extended medical care, making them unfit for deployment or military readiness, the official added. A fact sheet highlighted these concerns, though it remains unclear how exceptions to the ban will be applied under the new policy.
In 2018, the Palm Center estimated approximately 14,000 transgender service members in the US military.
During Trump’s first term, a Pentagon memo recommended limited exceptions for transgender individuals who had served under prior policies, those who did not require gender changes, or those stable in their biological sex for three years. Whether similar provisions will exist under the new ban is unknown.
The second executive order targets DEI policies across the armed forces. It directs the Department of Defense to eliminate any discriminatory practices linked to DEI initiatives.
Trump previously mandated the removal of federal DEI office employees, placing them on paid administrative leave. Hegseth is expected to lead an internal review of DEI activities within the military as part of this directive.
The final order focuses on reinstating service members discharged for refusing Covid-19 vaccinations. These individuals will be restored to their prior ranks and compensated with back pay and benefits. However, the Pentagon had already reversed its Covid-19 vaccine mandate in response to the 2023 National Defense Authorization Act signed by Biden.
As of late 2023, only a fraction of the over 8,000 discharged service members sought reinstatement. According to a CNN report, just 43 individuals had attempted to rejoin eight months after the mandate’s repeal.
These measures underscore Trump’s commitment to reshaping military policy and reversing actions taken during the Biden administration.
By banning transgender troops, ending DEI programs, and reinstating unvaccinated personnel, Trump aims to shift the military’s focus towards readiness and traditional values. Critics and supporters alike are expected to scrutinize the implications of these orders in the weeks to come.
