Recent reports claim that Donald Trump plans to discharge transgender members of the U.S. military from their posts when he takes office in January of 2025. The New York Times reports, Trump could implement the executive order on his first day in office, which will dismiss thousands of service personnel on a “medical discharge,” that would deem them unfit to serve. In addition, any transgender person would also be barred from joining the military. The Telegraph reports there are approximately 15,000 active service personnel who are trans.
The dismissal of transgender service personnel will only worsen the U.S. armed forces difficulties meeting target recruitment figures. The move will be a continuation of a ban Trump imposed during his first presidential term, banning transgender people from joining the armed forces while those who were already serving were allowed to keep their jobs. This ban was reversed during Joe Biden’s term.
Rachel Branaman, executive director of Modern Military Association of American – an organization supporting LGBTQ+ military personnel and vets – said “Should a trans ban be implemented from day one of the Trump administration it would undermine the readiness of the military and create an even greater recruitment and retention crisis, not to mention signaling vulnerability to America’s adversaries.”
Branaman also drew attention to the serious financial losses the military would face, alongside a loss of experience and leadership that could take decades and billions of dollars to replace. According to the Pentagon, approximately 2,200 service members were diagnosed with gender dysphoria in 2021, when Trump’s ban was rescinded by Biden.
Trump has appointed Pete Hegseth as his defense secretary, a Fox News host and former major in the National Guard. Recently, Hegseth has publicly complained about the “weak” and “effeminate” military leadership that he claims will need to be addressed by president Trump.
