Donald Trump is planning to sign an executive order that would lead to the removal of all transgender members of the US military, defense sources say. The order is expected to be wider ranging than a similar order made during his first term, which prevented transgender people from joining the armed forces but allowed those already serving to keep their jobs.
Under the new order, an estimated 15,000 active service personnel who are transgender would be medically discharged, determining that they are unfit to serve. It would also lead to a ban on trans people joining the military. The ban is expected to come at a time when almost all branches of the American armed forces are failing to meet recruitment targets.
Trump has criticized “woke” practices in the military, saying that some high-ranking officers are more interested in diversity, equity, and inclusion than planning to fight. Military charities that fought the trans ban during Trump’s first term are aware of his plans and have expressed concern that the ban would undermine the readiness of the military and create an even greater recruitment and retention crisis.
Trans people already serving in the military say that as well as causing them significant personal hardship, a new ban would be disastrous for the armed forces. One serving US air force non-commissioned officer, who preferred not to give their name, said that a ban would cause upheaval across the forces, particularly in leadership positions. A transgender analyst in the US navy, Paulo Batista, said that a ban would not only put a premature end to his career but also cause job vacancies that could take months or even years to fill.
The Trump administration has denied the reports, with Karoline Leavitt, the Trump-Vance transition spokeswoman, saying that no decisions on the issue have been made and no policy should be deemed official unless it comes directly from President Trump or his authorized spokespeople.
