President Donald Trump signed four executive orders related to the military, including one that prohibits transgender people from enlisting and serving openly, and another that cracks down on diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives within the armed forces. The order on transgender military service reinstates a policy from Trump’s first term, banning trans individuals from enlisting and receiving transition-related medical care. The order aims to prioritize troop readiness, cohesion, and integrity, citing gender dysphoria and shifting pronoun usage as inconsistent with military standards. The order also mandates updates to military medical standards and restricts transgender individuals’ use of certain facilities.
The Trump administration’s previous trans military restriction categorized service members as exempt or nonexempt, with only one waiver granted during its four-year enforcement. The Biden administration had allowed coverage of gender-affirming care for trans children of service members, but the latest executive order aims to prevent this practice. The Department of Defense estimates on the number of trans individuals serving in the military vary widely, with reports of up to 15,500 in 2014.
Another executive order signed by Trump prohibits diversity, equity, and inclusion programs in the military, disbanding DEI offices and requiring reviews of service academies curricula. These initiatives align with Trump’s efforts to roll back transgender rights and limit diversity initiatives during his second term. While these orders have sparked controversy and backlash, some trans service members, like Navy Commander Emily Shilling, emphasize their desire to continue serving and using skills acquired during their military service.
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