US President Donald Trump has signed several executive orders aimed at reshaping the country’s military, with provisions targeting diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs, as well as transgender service members. The order mandates that the Pentagon develop updated policies regarding the medical standards required for military service. It also addresses transgender individuals and “radical gender ideology,” stating that adopting a gender identity that was inconsistent with an individual’s sex denotes a conflict “with a soldier’s commitment” to a truthful, honorable and disciplined lifestyle. This move follows an executive order from the Trump administration that overturned the Biden administration’s directive, which allowed transgender individuals to serve openly in the military.

Within 90 days of the executive order being signed, the President says the Secretary of Defense will carry out "an internal review that documents actions taken in pursuit of DEI initiatives, including all instances of race and sex discrimination and activities designed to promote a race- or sex-based preferences system". It remains unclear what specific programs will be affected by the order. In a December 2020 report, the department's Board on Diversity and Inclusion recommended several steps, including the removal of "aptitude test barriers that adversely impact diversity" and incorporating the "value of cultivating diversity and inclusion" into leadership and professionalism curricula.

The order also specifies that males will be explicitly banned from using sleeping, changing, and bathing facilities designated for females, and vice versa. The exact number of transgender personnel in the US military is unclear. But previous estimates by researchers, as reported by the BBC, have ranged from 9,000 to 15,000 individuals. The issue of transgender service in the military under Donald Trump's presidency highlighted the tensions surrounding LGBTQ+ rights and military policy. While his administration’s directive reshaped the U.S. military’s approach to transgender personnel, it was met with significant opposition and legal challenges.

Ultimately, the Trump-era ban was reversed by President Biden, reaffirming the rights of transgender individuals to serve openly and with dignity. The policy shifts surrounding transgender service members in the U.S. military continue to be a topic of debate, but the conversation marks a broader societal reckoning with the inclusion and rights of transgender individuals. While the military’s stance may change with different administrations, the path forward remains focused on the principle of equal opportunity and respect for all service members, regardless of gender identity.