US President Donald Trump announced a new rule on Monday to remove what he calls “transgender ideology” from the military. He signed an executive order that bans the use of “invented pronouns” by military personnel. In his order, Trump stated that when soldiers identify as a gender different from their biological sex, it goes against their duty to be honest and disciplined. He believes this situation could hurt the military’s effectiveness, so he feels a new policy is necessary.
During a meeting with Republican Congress members in Miami, Trump said, “To make sure our military stays strong, we are getting rid of transgender ideology.” He had promised to reinstate a ban on transgender service members, which was lifted in 2016 by the Obama administration. Under that previous rule, transgender people serving in the military could do so openly, and new recruits were set to be accepted starting July 1, 2017.
A White House official mentioned that Trump’s new order is about removing “gender radicalism” from the military. During his first term, Trump had already limited the service of transgender troops, claiming they caused disruptions and made military life more expensive.
In response to Trump’s actions, President Joe Biden reversed that ban in 2021, saying anyone who wants to serve should be allowed to. Biden’s outgoing Defense Secretary, Lloyd Austin, emphasized that excluding qualified individuals from the military makes it weaker.
Even though there are only a few transgender troops, banning them could lead to problems, especially since military recruitment numbers are already low. Lawyers representing transgender service members who fought against Trump’s earlier ban are prepared to challenge this new order.
Leave a Reply