US President Donald Trump is anticipated to sign four executive orders that would fundamentally reshape military operations.
As two White House officials told CNN these include prohibiting transgender service members from joining the US military and dismantling the military’s Diversity Equity and Inclusion initiatives.
It also includes restoring back pay for service members who were released for refusing to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.
Remember that during his first few hours in office on January 20, Trump revoked an executive order signed by former President Biden in 2021 that allowed transgender people to serve and forbade the military from releasing soldiers because of their gender identity.
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Trump also enacted a sweeping executive order that recognizes only two genders: male and female.
Moments after arriving at the Pentagon on Monday, the new secretary of defence, Pete Hegseth, informed reporters that there are “more executive orders coming.”
However, the implications of these actions remain to be seen.
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“Today, there are more executive orders coming, … on removing DEI inside the Pentagon, reinstating troops who were pushed out because of Covid mandates, iron dome for America — this is happening quickly, and as the secretary of defense, it’s an honor to salute smartly as I did as a junior officer and now as the secretary of defense to ensure these orders are complied with rapidly and quickly,” Hegseth said.
Monday’s executive order as noted in the fact sheet posits that permitting transgender individuals to serve openly in the military has compromised military readiness and “unit cohesion.”
This argument has been historically utilized to exclude marginalized communities—such as Black and gay Americans, along with women—from military service.
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However, many contend that such claims lack substantive evidence, raising questions about the true motivations behind these policies.
Although proponents of the order assert it bolsters readiness, critics argue that inclusivity can enhance overall effectiveness.
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Because of this, the ongoing debate continues to highlight the complexities surrounding service eligibility in the armed forces.
