Donald Trump is reportedly preparing to issue an executive order that would ban transgender individuals from serving in the military, potentially as early as his first day back in office.
This directive, expected to follow his inauguration, would not only prohibit trans people from enlisting but also lead to the medical discharge of thousands of currently serving transgender service members, according to The Times.
Trump had previously announced in 2017 that transgender individuals would no longer be allowed in the U.S. military, citing “tremendous medical costs and disruption.”
That policy took effect in 2019 but was later reversed by President Joe Biden. Trump’s expected executive order would reverse Biden’s policy and go even further by ejecting those already serving.
The proposed order is part of a broader set of executive actions Trump plans to implement upon returning to the White House, including measures on immigration. These actions are anticipated to spark intense legal challenges.
Throughout his campaign, Trump and allied Republican groups invested heavily in anti-transgender messaging, targeting policies that affect less than 1% of the population.
Trump has pledged to roll back civil rights protections for LGBTQ+ individuals, bar transgender students from participating in sports