Trump to Revoke Transgender Rights in US Military

Trump Plans to Reinstate Transgender Military Ban

“There would be a significant financial cost, as well as a loss of experience and leadership that will take possibly..."

President-elect Donald Trump plans to reinstate a ban on transgender personnel in the US military, affecting over 15,000 service members.

There's been a report circulating that President-elect Donald Trump plans to sack over 15,000 transgender officers in the US army when he resumes office. This information allegedly came from anonymous sources within the US military on Monday, November 25.

According to the sources, Trump intends to enact this plan through an executive order as soon as he takes office on January 20, 2025. The plan involves medically discharging the transgender personnel, effectively deeming them unfit for service.

This report has sparked mixed reactions among Americans, particularly within the US military. It's worth noting that Trump had previously banned transgender troops during his first term, but President Joe Biden later lifted the ban.

Rachel Branaman, executive director of the Modern Military Association of America (MMAA), has expressed concerns that reinstating a transgender ban on the first day of Trump's administration would compromise military readiness. Branaman emphasized that such a move would worsen existing recruitment and retention challenges, ultimately sending a signal of vulnerability to America's adversaries.

Branaman's organization, the MMAA, advocates for LGBTQ+ service members and veterans, and has been vocal about the importance of inclusivity in the military. The MMAA has worked to advance LGBTQ+ civil rights progress through education, advocacy, support networks, and discrimination tracking.

She said, “Abruptly discharging 15,000- plus service members, especially given that the military's recruiting targets fell short by 41,000 recruits last year, adds administrative burdens to warfighting units, harms unit cohesion, and aggravates critical skill gaps.

“There would be a significant financial cost, as well as a loss of experience and leadership that will take possibly 20 years and billions of dollars to replace.”

Donald Trump has previously criticized what he calls 'woke' practices in the military, alleging that some high-ranking officers prioritize diversity, equity, and inclusion over strategic combat readiness. This criticism is not new, as Trump made similar comments during his first term in office.

Despite outgoing President Joe Biden repealing Trump's ban on transgender personnel, it seems that this time around, even transgender personnel with decades of service will be dismissed. This move is part of Trump's broader efforts to reshape the military in his image and eliminate what he sees as “woke” policies.

Trump's plans for the military also include using the military against what he calls domestic “enemies from within” and reviving a plan to easily fire nonpolitical civil servants and replace them with political appointees  These moves have raised concerns about the potential politicization of the military and the impact on its readiness and effectiveness.