President Donald Trump is set to sign executive orders on January 29, 2025, that will reinstate military policies restricting transgender individuals from serving openly and eliminate diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs within the military.
The new order will rescind a 2021 directive by former President Joe Biden that allowed transgender individuals to enlist and receive transition-related medical care. Instead, Trump’s order will update Department of Defense medical standards, emphasizing military readiness and deployability.
Specifically, the order will prohibit the use of 'invented and identification-based pronouns' and restrict access to facilities based on biological sex. Currently serving transgender personnel will not be immediately discharged, but the future of those receiving transition-related care remains uncertain.
In addition to the transgender policy, Trump plans to eliminate DEI initiatives from the military, requiring a review of curricula at U.S. Service Academies to remove what he terms 'radical DEI and gender ideologies.' This directive follows the confirmation of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who supports these changes.
Hegseth has indicated that reinstating troops dismissed for refusing COVID-19 vaccination is also a priority. This reinstatement will allow affected service members to return to their previous ranks and receive back pay and benefits.
These executive actions reflect Trump’s broader agenda to reverse policies implemented during Biden’s administration.