United States President-elect, Donald Trump, is reportedly preparing to issue an executive order banning transgender individuals from serving in the US military, a move that would effectively discharge the 15,000 transgender service members currently enlisted.
According to sources cited by The Times, Trump plans to implement this measure as soon as he re-enters the White House on January 20, marking a return to controversial policies from his first term.
Trump initially announced a ban on transgender military service in 2017, citing “tremendous medical costs and disruption.” The policy, which was implemented in 2019, was later reversed by President Joe Biden. However, Trump is now expected to reinstate the ban and extend it by mandating the removal of transgender troops through medical discharges.
Rachel Branaman, executive director of the Modern Military Association of America, warned of the potential consequences during an interview with The Times.
She stated, “This would undermine the readiness of the military and create an even greater recruitment and retention crisis, not to mention signalling vulnerability to America’s adversaries.”
Branaman further underscored the operational and financial ramifications of such a move, explaining, “Abruptly discharging 15,000-plus service members, especially given that the military’s recruiting targets fell short by 41,000 recruits last year, adds administrative burdens to warfighting units, harms unit cohesion, and aggravates critical skill gaps.”
The Republican Party, emboldened by Trump’s 2024 campaign, has positioned anti-transgender policies as a central aspect of its platform. GOP members have introduced numerous state-level anti-trans bills and invested millions in advertising campaigns targeting transgender rights, with Trump pledging to expand these restrictions beyond the military.
Trump’s campaign rhetoric also includes proposals to ban gender-affirming healthcare for transgender youth and prevent transgender students from participating in sports or using bathrooms aligned with their gender identities.
Paulo Batista, a transgender analyst in the Navy, highlighted the potential impact of such a ban. “You take 15,000 of us out — there’s more, but that’s the number that is always mentioned — that’s 15,000 leadership positions. Every one of us plays a vital role,” he said.
The timing of Trump’s proposed actions has sparked alarm within military circles, particularly given the armed forces’ significant recruitment shortfalls. A source familiar with Trump’s plans told The Times, “These people will be forced out at a time when the military can’t recruit enough people.”
Adding to the controversy, Trump’s nominee for Secretary of Defense, a known supporter of the previous transgender ban, has already faced criticism for claiming that transgender individuals are “not deployable” and bring “complications” to military service.
