Trump to Remove Transgender Servicemembers from Military

President-elect Donald Trump is reportedly planning an executive order to remove all transgender members from the U.S. military, a decision defense sources indicate could take effect on his first day back in office, January 20.

The move would reportedly result in medically discharging approximately 15,000 active service members deemed unfit to serve due to their transgender status, while also instituting a ban on future transgender enlistments.

This policy would mark a return to Trump’s stance during his first term when he implemented a ban on most transgender individuals serving in the military.

That policy was later reversed by President Joe Biden.

Critics of transgender military service argue that military readiness and taxpayer resources should not be diverted to cover the costs of sex reassignment surgeries and related medical treatments, emphasizing the military’s primary mission of national defense.

Estimates of transgender service members vary widely. In 2021, Stephanie Miller, former director of military accession policy, suggested the number could range from 1,000 to 8,000, including those not seeking treatment, while other studies have estimated totals as high as 14,700.

The proposed order comes at a time when the U.S. military faces significant challenges in meeting recruitment goals, prompting debate over the impact of such a policy on force readiness and morale.