President-elect Donald Trump is planning for the removal of all transgender members from the U.S. military, according to a Nov. 25 report published in the Times of London.
The order could arrive as early as Jan. 20, Trump’s first day back in the White House, sources said. Trump’s order would both prevent transgender individuals from enlisting in the military and kick out those individuals currently serving.
During his first term in office, Trump unexpectedly announced a ban on new transgender service members but allowed those currently in the service to remain. That policy was overturned by the Biden administration.
Trump’s new, more far-reaching ban—which could possibly discharge an estimated 15,000 service members—comes after anti-trans rhetoric had become a central campaign strategy for his bid to return to the White House. Another talking-point among his allies and supporters has been that the military had been “feminized” and otherwise undermined by efforts to make the military more diverse and inclusive.
In a Nov. 25 statement, Human Rights Campaign President Kelly Robinson said, “Banning thousands of qualified transgender service members—who meet every qualification to serve and have been serving without incident positively contributing to the nation’s defense for nearly a decade—would make our country less safe and is nothing more than transphobia masquerading as policy.
“The United States military, tasked with defending our country and protecting all Americans, should be built on readiness and qualifications, not bias, hate and discrimination. Transgender service members are patriots who have proven their commitment, skill and dedication to protecting this country. But Donald Trump is making clear that his administration will go all in on hatred and division at the expense of our military’s readiness, our standing as a leader on the world stage, and the dignity of those who have made the courageous decision to serve their country.
“Our military must be able to recruit the best candidates, retain the highly trained service members who have already sacrificed so much for their country, and every qualified patriot should be able to serve openly, free of discrimination.
“Transgender people exist and belong and in every part of our society, and we stand with these service members and will take swift action to push back against this dangerous and discriminatory ban. Any person who meets the qualifications should be able to serve.”
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