WASHINGTON (Agencies): President-elect Donald Trump reportedly plans to reintroduce a ban on transgender individuals serving in the U.S. military, potentially impacting thousands of active service members, The Times reported Monday. Citing defense sources, the report suggests Trump will sign an executive order shortly after taking office, reversing a policy rescinded by outgoing President Joe Biden in 2021.
The proposed measure would discharge openly transgender personnel—estimated at 15,000—and prohibit future enlistments. Individuals would allegedly be deemed unfit for service based on gender identity, although it remains unclear whether medical examinations would be required to verify their status.
This move represents a stricter version of the ban Trump implemented during his first term in 2018. At that time, openly transgender recruits were barred, but those already in the military could remain. Trump justified the policy by citing “tremendous medical costs” associated with hormone treatments and claiming transgender individuals posed a readiness risk. Critics argued the policy was discriminatory and unfounded.
Trump’s expected defense secretary, Pete Hegseth, is anticipated to support the decision. A National Guard veteran and former Fox News host, Hegseth has criticized the military for embracing what he described as “woke” diversity initiatives, which he argued undermine its strength. His recent book, The War on Warriors, called for reducing the Pentagon’s focus on inclusion policies, claiming medical care for transgender service members is too costly.
The announcement comes as the military grapples with significant recruiting challenges. In 2023, recruitment targets fell short by over 40,000 personnel. Critics warn that removing thousands of experienced service members could further weaken the armed forces.
“Abruptly discharging 15,000-plus service members adds administrative burdens, disrupts unit cohesion, and aggravates critical skill gaps,” Rachel Branaman, head of the Modern Military Association of America, told The Times. She noted that rebuilding the lost experience could take decades and cost billions of dollars.
The decision is expected to reignite debates over the role of diversity and inclusion in the armed forces and whether such policies impact military readiness or strength.