Trump Set to Sign Executive Order Limiting Transgender Service Members in Military

President Donald Trump is poised to enact a new executive order aimed at restricting the service of transgender troops within the U.S. military, with an official signing expected on Monday. This move continues Trump’s long-standing opposition to transgender individuals serving openly in the armed forces, a policy he introduced and then rescinded during his previous term.

Details of the Executive Order

The forthcoming executive order mandates Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to amend current medical standards. According to a White House document reviewed by Fox News Digital, these revisions are designed to “prioritize readiness and lethality” and require the cessation of “invented and identification-based pronouns” within the Department of Defense (DOD).

Significantly, the order also requires that facilities for sleeping, changing, and bathing be assigned based on biological sex. While this does not impose an immediate ban, it provides directives for the Defense Secretary to enforce such policies, marking a departure from measures implemented under the previous administration.

Revoking Biden’s Policies

This new order follows a pattern of policies aimed at reversing the actions of former President Joe Biden. The White House contends that Biden’s executive order “allowed for special circumstances to accommodate ‘gender identity’ in the military to the detriment of military readiness and unit cohesion,” positioning Trump’s directive as a necessary corrective.

This latest order builds upon a directive issued last week that aimed at nullifying Biden’s initiatives concerning transgender military service. Trump’s campaign has explicitly promised a return to the ban on transgender individuals serving in the military, a commitment reaffirmed during his inauguration speech where he stated he would officially recognize only two genders: male and female.

Current Demographics and Costs

Estimates suggest that there are between 9,000 and 14,000 transgender service members serving in the military; however, exact numbers remain elusive due to a lack of public reporting. Between January 2016 and May 2021, the DOD reportedly expended around million on gender-affirming care—covering both surgical and nonsurgical necessities—for approximately 1,892 active-duty service members, as per data compiled by the Congressional Research Service.

The Broader Campaign Against DEI Practices

The impending executive order forms part of a broader initiative championed by Trump and Hegseth aimed at eradicating diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) practices within the military framework. Concurrently, Republican lawmakers have succeeded in incorporating an amendment into the 2025 defense policy bill that prohibits irreversible transgender medical procedures for minors within the military healthcare system.

A day-one directive mandating the abolition of DEI policies across the federal government has reportedly already led to the sidelining of 395 federal employees, as reported by Fox News Digital.

Restrictions on Federal Funding and Facilities

Trump’s newly introduced rules extend beyond military operations, requiring the federal government to recognize only two genders while blocking taxpayer funding for “transgender services.” This decision comes amid revelations that some inmates were receiving government-funded transgender care. In some states, Medicaid continues to cover such treatments.

Furthermore, under this same directive, federal prisons and shelters intended for migrants, victims of sexual violence, and other vulnerable populations are mandated to segregate individuals based on biological sex. This would counter existing policies urging that transgender individuals be recognized by pronouns that align with their gender identity—a requirement that Trump’s team argues infringes upon First Amendment rights related to freedom of speech and religion.

No Nationwide Bathroom Mandate

Importantly, the executive order does not issue a nationwide edict regarding the bathrooms that transgender individuals may use or the sports competitions in which they can participate. Nonetheless, numerous states have enacted laws that govern these aspects at local levels, reflecting a growing trend toward restricting transgender rights nationwide.

Conclusion

As Trump moves to solidify these changes, reactions are expected from various sectors, including advocacy groups for LGBTQ+ rights and military service members. The implications of such policies reach beyond the military into the broader societal framework surrounding gender identity and equality. With ongoing debates and legal challenges anticipated, this executive order is likely to reignite discussions on the rights of transgender individuals in both military and civilian contexts.