President Donald Trump signed four executive orders related to the military, one of which reinstated a policy banning transgender individuals from enlisting and serving openly. This order also prohibited transition-related medical care coverage for transgender service members and their families, among other restrictions. The implementation of this order will take time, and the fate of service members currently receiving transition-related care through Tricare is uncertain. Trump’s administration previously had a policy in place that allowed some exemptions for openly trans service members based on when they came out. The order refutes claims that this is a ban on transgender individuals in the military and criticizes Biden’s reversal of the previous policy for costing taxpayers millions of dollars. The Department of Defense does not consistently report the number of transgender service members, with estimates ranging from 2,150 to 15,500. Trump also signed an order disbanding diversity, equity, and inclusion programs in the military, requiring a review of service academies’ curricula to eliminate what he calls “radical” ideologies. These actions align with Trump’s efforts to restrict diversity initiatives and roll back transgender rights enacted under the Biden administration. The administration’s stance on transgender military service has drawn criticism from advocates like Emily Shilling, a transgender Navy commander, who stated that she and other trans service members simply want to continue serving their country.
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Trump enacts executive order prohibiting transgender individuals from serving in the military
