President Trump to Sign Two Executive Orders Targeting Transgender Service Members, DEI Programs in the Military
President Trump is set to sign two executive orders on Monday aimed at prohibiting transgender service members from the military and eliminating Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) programs in the armed forces. The orders are seen as a major reversal of the Biden administration’s policies, which had allowed transgender individuals to serve openly in the military and had stressed the importance of DEI initiatives in promoting a more inclusive and diverse military.
According to a White House document, the orders direct the Department of Defense to implement new standards on pronouns and gender identity, prohibiting transgender service members from serving in the military due to concerns about mental and physical readiness. The document states that individuals who are unable to meet the military’s physical demands may be unable to serve, and that it can take up to 12 months for an individual to complete treatments after transition surgery, during which time they may be unable to meet deployment requirements.
The second executive order targets DEI programs in the military, directing the Secretary of Defense to ban discriminatory race- or sex-based preferences, and ordering a review of all DEI practices to ensure they do not promote “woke” ideologies. The order also bans all bureaucratic bodies dedicated to DEI in the military and directs the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Homeland Security to review all academic curricula in US service academies to eliminate radical DEI and gender ideologies.
The orders are seen as a major shift in the military’s approach to diversity and inclusion, with critics arguing that the rollback of DEI initiatives will lead to a less inclusive and more divisive military. Proponents, on the other hand, argue that the orders will help to improve military readiness and cohesion, and promote a more focused and effective armed forces.