On Monday, US President Donald Trump signed an executive order to remove what he described as “transgender ideology” from the military, a move that could present a significant setback for LGBTQ rights. The order, signed while Trump was on Air Force One, also included plans to build a US version of Israel’s Iron Dome missile defence system.
Trump issued additional orders to reinstate military members who had been dismissed for refusing the COVID-19 vaccine and to continue a government crackdown on diversity initiatives within the armed forces.
“To ensure that we have the most lethal fighting force in the world, we will get transgender ideology the hell out of our military,” Trump told a Republican congressional retreat in Miami.
Previously, Trump had promised to reinstate a ban on transgender troops and criticized any recognition of gender diversity. In his executive order, Trump argued that the military had been influenced by what he called “radical gender ideology” and that certain physical and mental health conditions were incompatible with active service.
The order stated that adopting a gender identity inconsistent with one’s biological sex conflicted with the values of the military, claiming such an identity conflicted with a soldier’s commitment to a disciplined and honourable life. It further stated that a man claiming to be a woman, and demanding others recognize this claim, contradicted the selflessness and humility required of a service member.
In a separate order, Trump asserted that diversity programs in the military weakened leadership, merit, and unit cohesion, harming readiness and effectiveness. The order also prohibited the military from promoting “un-American” theories, including those suggesting that America’s founding documents are racist or sexist, and from advancing discussions on “gender ideology.”
These orders came at the start of Trump’s second week back in office and on the same day, a welcome ceremony was held at the Pentagon for his new defense secretary, Pete Hegseth, a military veteran and Fox News personality.
Transgender Americans have faced fluctuating policies on military service over recent years. Under President Obama, the military lifted its ban on transgender troops in 2016, allowing transgender service members to serve openly. The Trump administration reversed this policy, and President Biden reversed the ban again in 2021, allowing all qualified Americans to serve regardless of gender identity.
While the number of transgender service members is relatively small — estimated at around 15,000 out of more than two million military personnel — their exclusion could further strain the military, which is already struggling to meet recruitment goals.
Biden's defence secretary, Lloyd Austin, criticized Trump’s actions earlier this month, saying: “Any military that turns away qualified patriots who are eager to serve is just making itself smaller and weaker.”
Trump also reiterated his plans to build a version of Israel’s Iron Dome missile defence system to protect the US from missile threats. However, he overlooked the fact that the Iron Dome is designed for short-range threats, making it unsuitable for defending against intercontinental missiles, which are the primary concern for the US.
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