President Donald Trump is set to sign three executive orders on Monday that will significantly reshape the U.S. military by reinstating a ban on transgender service members, dismantling Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs, and reinstating service members who were discharged for refusing the COVID-19 vaccine, according to two White House officials.
The anticipated orders, first reported by The New York Post, come just days after Trump’s newly confirmed Secretary of Defense, Pete Hegseth, was sworn into office. Hegseth has been a vocal advocate for what he describes as restoring the military’s “warrior ethos” and eliminating what he considers “woke” policies within the armed forces.
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One of the most significant changes in Trump’s executive actions is a renewed ban on transgender individuals serving in the U.S. military. Trump initially enacted a similar ban in 2017, but it was later reversed in 2021 by then-President Joe Biden, allowing transgender individuals to serve openly.
The new executive order is expected to go even further than the previous ban by establishing strict military standards that prohibit gender pronoun preferences and cite concerns about mental and physical readiness as justification for excluding transgender service members.
A White House official stated that the move is aimed at “ensuring military readiness and cohesion,” adding that “President Trump believes the focus of our military should be on winning wars, not social experiments.”
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Another executive order will target DEI initiatives within the Department of Defense, effectively eliminating programs aimed at promoting diversity and inclusion. Hegseth has previously criticized these initiatives, arguing they undermine military readiness and foster division within the ranks.
According to administration officials, the order will direct the Pentagon to remove DEI training requirements, eliminate diversity-focused roles, and redirect funding toward combat readiness and operational effectiveness.
The third executive order will reinstate military personnel who were discharged for refusing to comply with COVID-19 vaccination mandates. Those service members will be reinstated with backpay and restored benefits.
During his campaign and since taking office, Trump has frequently criticized the military’s vaccine mandate, calling it an infringement on personal freedoms and detrimental to military recruitment and retention.
The executive actions are likely to ignite controversy and face legal challenges from civil rights groups and veterans’ organizations. LGBTQ advocacy groups have already condemned the expected transgender ban, calling it discriminatory and damaging to the military’s operational strength.
On the other hand, Trump’s supporters, including several conservative lawmakers and military officials, have praised the move, arguing it will refocus the armed forces on their primary mission of national defense.
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