On Monday, U.S. President Donald Trump signed a sweeping executive order aimed at removing what he described as “transgender ideology” from the U.S. military, marking a significant setback for LGBTQ rights.
The order, announced aboard Air Force One during a series of military-related briefings, comes as Trump also called for the development of a U.S. equivalent to Israel’s Iron Dome missile defense system. Additionally, the executive measures reinstated service members dismissed for refusing the COVID-19 vaccine and directed efforts to phase out diversity programs within the armed forces.
“To ensure we have the most lethal fighting force in the world, we will get transgender ideology the hell out of our military,” Trump declared during a Republican congressional retreat in Miami.
This move reiterates Trump’s previously implemented ban on transgender troops and reflects his ongoing opposition to recognizing gender diversity within the military. In his order, Trump claimed that the U.S. military had been “afflicted with radical gender ideology to appease activists” and suggested that “many mental and physical health conditions are incompatible with active duty.”
The order emphasized that adopting a gender identity inconsistent with one’s sex conflicts with the discipline and values required of service members, stating: “A man’s assertion that he is a woman, and the demand that others honour this falsehood, is inconsistent with the humility and selflessness required of a service member.”
Another aspect of the executive orders targeted military diversity programs, asserting that they “undermine leadership, merit, and unit cohesion, thereby eroding lethality and force readiness.” The orders also banned discussions on “gender ideology” and labeled theories suggesting America’s founding documents are racist or sexist as “un-American.”
The announcements coincided with the start of Trump’s second week back in the White House and a ceremony at the Pentagon welcoming his newly appointed Defense Secretary, Pete Hegseth. Hegseth, a military veteran and Fox News personality, was confirmed despite concerns about his limited experience and past allegations of misconduct.
“Thank you for your leadership, Mr. President. We will execute!” Hegseth wrote on social media platform X.
Transgender military service: A fluctuating policy
Transgender Americans have faced fluctuating military policies in recent years, with Democratic administrations pushing for inclusion while Trump repeatedly sought to exclude them. Under President Barack Obama, the U.S. military lifted its ban on transgender service members in 2016. However, during his first term, Trump reversed this policy, reinstating the ban. President Joe Biden later reinstated inclusive policies in 2021.
Transgender troops represent a small fraction of the U.S. military—around 15,000 out of more than two million personnel—but their potential dismissal could exacerbate challenges facing military recruitment, as enlistment numbers have declined in recent years.
Former Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin appeared to criticize Trump’s stance earlier this month, stating, “Any military that turns away qualified patriots eager to serve is just making itself smaller and weaker.”
Iron dome and domestic missile defense
In addition to the military policy changes, Trump renewed his pledge to develop a U.S.-based version of Israel’s Iron Dome missile defense system, despite its limitations for addressing intercontinental threats. “We need to immediately begin constructing a state-of-the-art Iron Dome missile defense shield,” Trump said, adding that it would be produced domestically.
AFP
