TRUMP'S ORDER RELATED TO TRANSGENDER TROOPS COULD POSSIBLY BAR THEIR SERVICE
As Trump takes the seat, more executive orders are coming in. Trump signed a series of executive orders on the evening of January 27, 2025, including one that would eliminate diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts from the military. He has now also signed an order that prevents transgender people from enlisting and serving openly. He has signed another that cracks down on diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives in the military.
The White House also said that Trump signed an order that eliminated “gender radicalism” from the military. Despite support from almost every segment of the U.S. population and a majority of Republicans, President Trump opposed the Equality Act.
The New and Reshaped Armed Forces
Hours after being sworn in for his second term, Trump signed an order revoking the Biden administration’s move to allow transgender members to serve. Trump's executive order includes new military standards regarding gender pronouns and state that mental and physical readiness requires transgender service members be banned from the military.
The order does not yet ban transgender military officers but directs the Pentagon to create a policy for transgender members of the military.
“Yes, Trump has taken many ‘unprecedented’ steps, but those steps have been to undermine and eliminate rights protecting LGBTQ people, not empower us. Appointing a small handful of gay people out of thousands of nominations and making very few - and unfulfilled - pledges can hardly qualify as accomplishments. Don’t gaslight us.” Alphonso David, the Human Rights President, said.
Another order Trump signed reinstated Soldiers who were expelled for refusing to be vaccinated against Covid-19. Trump also signed an executive order to establish a process to build a short-range missile defense system akin to Israel’s Iron Dome, where it would take years to build.
The orders were signed on U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth’s first day. Hegseth, who narrowly secured enough votes to be confirmed, said he planned to make major changes in the Pentagon. He did not rule out making changes to the top brass.
Renewing U.S Military Policies
Many individuals on the left have taken the stance that President Donald Trump is a threat to the LGBT community because of the transgender ban in the military. However, the LGBT community has said that this was “nothing new” to them.
During his first term in 2017 until 2021, he made discriminatory measures aimed at limiting protection for LGBT people across the United States. Since then, state legislatures around the country have continued to pursue or pass bills to limit the presence of LGBT people in public life.
A Lawsuit is Filed by Transgender Military Officers
With Trump potentially doing the ban for the transgender troops, it has continued the fire that started during Trump’s first term. A group of military soldiers has challenged Trump’s decision in court. This includes, six transgender military officers, and two transgender individuals who want to enlist.
The lawsuit was filed on Tuesday, and their call is that the ban on transgender military officers violates the constitutional rights of the people.
“A bare invocation of ‘national defense’ simply cannot defeat every motion for a preliminary injunction that touches on the military. On the record before the court, there is absolutely no support for the claim that the ongoing service of transgender people would have any negative effect on the military at all,” U.S. District Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly said.
The New Order Could Lead to Workplace Discrimination
Justice Neil Gorsuch has said that the federal law prohibiting sex-based discrimination in the workplace also applies to all kinds of genders, in this case, transgender military officers.
“Across the world today, countless transgender service members are defending our nation’s freedom; at the very same time, their freedom is being taken away from them. These sailors, marines, airmen, and soldiers serve our country with the utmost honor, and many have served long, successful careers. Prohibiting transgender individuals from service undermines our nation’s values and readiness at the very moment our military is needed. Whether they serve in the Red Sea, the Asia-Pacific region, or here close to home, they serve so that so many Americans do not have to,” Alaina Kupec, a transgender Veteran and former U.S. Naval Intelligence Officer, said.
The LGBT community is still fighting for their rights, even though it's for serving the country. Nevertheless, our transgender military officers have the heart to do so.
Read next:
- What We Know About the American Airlines Plane & Army Helicopter Collision Over the Potomac
- President Trump Eliminates Military DEI Initiatives Through Executive Order
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