Donald Trump is reportedly planning to issue an executive order that would ban transgender individuals from serving in the U.S. military, potentially as early as his first day back in office. The proposed order, expected after his inauguration on January 20, would also mandate the medical discharge of thousands of currently serving transgender personnel.
According to The Times, defense officials estimate that around 15,000 transgender service members could be medically discharged under this policy, effectively labeling them unfit for duty. This aligns with Trump’s ongoing criticism of what he calls “woke” military policies, which he argues prioritize diversity and inclusion over operational readiness.
A source quoted by The Times remarked that transgender personnel will be “forced out at a time when the military can’t recruit enough people.” They also noted that only the Marine Corps is currently meeting recruitment goals and emphasized that some of those targeted by the policy hold senior positions in the armed forces.
The report coincides with Trump’s nomination of Pete Hegseth, a former U.S. National Guard major and Fox News host, as his defense secretary. Hegseth, a vocal critic of what he describes as “weak” military leadership, has called for major reforms. In his latest book, he labeled the medical care provided to transgender personnel as an unnecessary financial burden for the Pentagon, advocating for a “housecleaning” within military ranks.
This would not mark Trump’s first action against transgender service members. During his first term, he declared that transgender individuals would no longer be allowed to serve, citing “tremendous medical costs and disruption.” That policy, initially announced on Twitter in 2017, took effect in 2019 but was later overturned by President Joe Biden. Biden’s reversal reinstated the rights of transgender individuals to serve openly in the military. However, Trump is now expected to not only reinstate the ban but also extend it to discharge those currently serving.
This executive order is part of a broader agenda Trump plans to enact upon returning to office. His proposals include sweeping immigration reforms and other controversial initiatives that are likely to provoke significant opposition.
On the campaign trail, Trump has also pledged to scale back civil rights protections for LGBT+ individuals, prohibit transgender students from participating in sports or using facilities that align with their gender identity, and ban gender-affirming healthcare for transgender minors nationwide.
