Trump’s Plan to Ban Transgender Troops in the Military
The Times
As fears of global conflict intensify, President-elect Donald Trump is reportedly preparing to reinstate a ban on transgender individuals serving in the U.S. military. Sources indicate Trump plans to sign an executive order on January 20, his first day back in the White House, effectively ejecting an estimated 15,000 transgender personnel and barring future enlistments.
Insiders revealed that under the proposed policy, transgender troops—regardless of their years of service—would be discharged on medical grounds, labelled as “unfit for duty.” Speaking to The Times, one source said: “These people will be forced out at a time when the military is already struggling to meet recruitment targets. Only the Marine Corps is currently meeting its quotas, and some of those affected hold critical senior roles.”
This policy echoes Trump’s first-term ban on transgender service members in 2019, which was later overturned by President Joe Biden. The original prohibition, first enacted during the mid-20th century, was lifted briefly from 2016 to 2019 under the Obama administration, allowing transgender people to serve under certain conditions. Trump’s reinstatement of the ban sparked significant backlash, with critics likening it to the now defunct “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy that once excluded LGBTQ+ individuals from military service.
The proposed policy would prohibit anyone with a history of gender dysphoria or those who have undergone gender-affirming surgery from serving. To remain in the military, transgender individuals would need to conceal their identity, avoiding uniforms, facilities, or accommodations aligned with their gender. Trump previously defended his stance in 2017, claiming the move would prevent “tremendous medical costs and disruption.”
The timing of this decision comes as military recruitment struggles persist. Only 1% of Americans serve in the armed forces, and while the military enlisted 225,000 recruits last year, officials are spending heavily to boost numbers. Experts attribute the shortfall to a combination of low awareness, a competitive labour market, and unqualified candidates.
Critics argue the proposed ban would further strain recruitment efforts, eliminating capable and experienced service members in a time of heightened global uncertainty. For the LGBTQ+ community, the news has reopened old wounds, signalling a potential rollback of hard-won rights.
ED: I also read in Newsweek that Trump’s transition team denied that any decisions on the issue had been made. No decisions on this issue have been made. No policy should ever be deemed official unless it comes directly from President Trump or his authorized spokespeople.
