Trump Signs Executive Orders Reshaping Military Policies

Trump signs an executive order at the White House in Washington

President Donald Trump recently signed four executive orders that will significantly impact the US military. The orders include banning transgender individuals from serving in the armed forces, dismantling diversity, equity, and inclusion programs within the military, reinstating service members who were discharged for refusing the Covid-19 vaccine, and initiating the development of a next-generation missile defense shield for the country.

Trump signed these executive orders while aboard Air Force One on his return trip to Washington from Florida. The move comes as Pete Hegseth, Trump's nominee for Secretary of Defense, was sworn in and has expressed intentions to implement significant cultural changes within the military.

The ban on transgender service members reverses a policy put in place by President Joe Biden in 2021. The new ban goes further by setting new standards regarding gender pronouns and stating that transgender individuals are not physically capable of meeting military readiness requirements due to medical treatments post-transition surgery.

Another executive order prohibits any discriminatory policies related to diversity, equity, and inclusion in the military. All DEI practices within the US armed forces will undergo internal review by Hegseth.

Orders signed aboard Air Force One during return trip from Florida.

Trump signed orders on transgender ban, DEI programs dismantling, vaccine refusal discharge reversal, and missile defense shield development.

Pete Hegseth, nominee for Secretary of Defense, sworn in with plans for cultural changes.

The third order directs the reinstatement of service members who were discharged for refusing the Covid-19 vaccine, with back pay and benefits. The Pentagon had already rescinded the vaccine mandate, allowing some discharged members to seek reinstatement.

The fourth order initiates the creation of a next-generation missile defense shield for the US, referred to as an 'Iron Dome for America.' This system aims to defend against ballistic, hypersonic, and advanced cruise missiles, as well as other aerial threats.

The executive order calls for the development of an advanced space-based system to detect and intercept potential attacks against the United States. While the cost and timeline for this shield are not specified, it underscores the administration's focus on enhancing the country's defense capabilities.