Donald Trump is reportedly preparing to issue an executive order that would ban transgender individuals from serving in the military, potentially as early as his first day back in office.
This directive, expected to follow his inauguration, would not only prohibit trans people from enlisting but also lead to the medical discharge of thousands of currently serving transgender service members, according to The Times.
Trump had previously announced in 2017 that transgender individuals would no longer be allowed in the U.S. military, citing “tremendous medical costs and disruption.”
That policy took effect in 2019 but was later reversed by President Joe Biden. Trump’s expected executive order would reverse Biden’s policy and go even further by ejecting those already serving.
The proposed order is part of a broader set of executive actions Trump plans to implement upon returning to the White House, including measures on immigration. These actions are anticipated to spark intense legal challenges.
Throughout his campaign, Trump and allied Republican groups invested heavily in anti-transgender messaging, targeting policies that affect less than 1% of the population.
Trump has pledged to roll back civil rights protections for LGBTQ+ individuals, bar transgender students from participating in sports or using bathrooms aligned with their gender identity, and ban gender-affirming healthcare for transgender youth nationwide.
At the state level, Republicans have introduced hundreds of anti-trans bills. In the aftermath of the 2024 elections, GOP members of Congress have intensified efforts to pass federal legislation targeting transgender individuals, including restrictions on bathroom access and sports participation.
The Republican Party’s 2024 platform prominently includes “Keep Men Out of Women’s Sports” as a priority.
Trump: “We will not have men playing in women’s sports”
— Dr. Eli David (@DrEliDavid) July 20, 2024
pic.twitter.com/wBTNK4N6aj
Trump’s nominee for Secretary of Defense, expected to oversee three million military personnel and civilian staff, has supported previous bans on transgender service members and claimed without evidence that they are “not deployable” and create operational “complications.”
The potential removal of roughly 15,000 transgender service members comes at a time when the military is grappling with recruitment challenges.
“These individuals will be forced out at a time when the military is already struggling to meet its recruitment goals,” a source told The Times. Last year, the military fell short by 41,000 recruits.
Rachel Branaman, executive director of the Modern Military Association of America, warned that such a ban would undermine military readiness and exacerbate existing personnel shortages.
“Abruptly discharging over 15,000 service members would harm unit cohesion, create skill gaps, and impose significant financial costs,” she said, noting that rebuilding the experience and leadership lost could take decades.
Paulo Batista, a transgender Navy analyst, emphasized the broader impact of the policy. “Removing 15,000 of us takes out 15,000 leadership positions. Each of us plays a vital role,” he said, predicting a ripple effect throughout the armed forces.
The debate over transgender military service highlights broader societal and political divisions, with significant implications for civil rights and national defense.