Former President Donald Trump is planning to issue an executive order that would ban all transgender individuals from serving in the U.S. military if he returns to the White House. This order could be signed as early as his first day back in office, January 20, 2025, according to defence sources.
The proposed directive would result in the medical discharge of approximately 15,000 active service members identified as transgender, effectively labeling them unfit for service. It would also prohibit future transgender recruits from joining the military, exacerbating the recruitment crisis currently affecting nearly all branches of the U.S. armed forces. "These people will be forced out at a time when the military can’t recruit enough people," a source familiar with Trump's plans stated.
This move is expected to be more comprehensive than a similar order during Trump's previous term, which only restricted new transgender enlistments while allowing those already serving to remain. President Biden had rescinded that order, but the new proposal would remove even those with decades of service from their posts.
Critics argue that the ban would undermine military readiness and create further recruitment and retention challenges. Rachel Branaman, executive director of the Modern Military Association of America, warned, "Should a trans ban be implemented from day one of the Trump administration, it would undermine the readiness of the military and create an even greater recruitment and retention crisis, not to mention signalling vulnerability to America’s adversaries."
Trump has criticized what he perceives as "woke" practices within the military, suggesting that some senior officers prioritize diversity over defence. His nominee for defence secretary, Pete Hegseth, has echoed these sentiments, railing against "weak" leadership in the military and arguing that medical care for transgender personnel is an extravagance the Pentagon cannot afford.
The potential ban has sparked serious concern among military personnel and advocacy groups. A serving U.S. Air Force non-commissioned officer, who preferred to remain anonymous, expressed that the ban would cause "significant personal hardship" and be "disastrous for the armed forces." The officer emphasized the difficulty of replacing the level of experience that transgender service members bring to the table.
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