President Donald Trump is set to sign executive orders banning transgender individuals from serving in the military, dismantling DEI programs across the armed forces, and reinstating service members discharged for refusing COVID-19 vaccinations—with backpay.
The first executive order will ban transgender individuals from serving in the military. This move follows Trump’s previous ban during his first term, which was later reversed by President Joe Biden in 2021. The new order goes further by outlining new military standards regarding gender pronouns and stating that mental and physical readiness requires transgender service members to be banned from the military.
The second executive order will eliminate DEI programs within the military. This order comes after the Trump administration placed employees in federal DEI offices on paid administrative leave, pending further action. The order aims to end what the administration views as discriminatory policies related to DEI in the armed forces.
The third executive order will reinstate service members who were discharged for refusing the COVID-19 vaccine. These individuals will be restored to their former rank and provided with back pay and benefits. This move follows the Pentagon’s earlier decision to rescind the military’s COVID-19 vaccination mandate, allowing discharged service members to rejoin.
Dollar Store Obama is mad DEI is getting packed up by the Trump Administration
— Drew Hernandez (@DrewHLive) January 25, 2025
President Donald Trump is expected to sign three executive orders that would reshape the military, including banning transgender service members from serving in the US armed forces, gutting the military’s Diversity Equity and Inclusion programs and reinstating service members…
— unusual_whales (@unusual_whales) January 27, 2025
Democrats, including House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and Representative Ilhan Omar, have voiced their opposition, arguing that shutting down DEI programs is outside of Trump’s authority. They have threatened “righteous litigation” over the shutdown of DEI offices.
Sources:
https://news.yahoo.com/news/trump-expected-sign-executive-orders-140919910.html
https://www.newsweek.com/trump-military-executive-orders-hegseth-first-day-2021520
