US President-Elect Donald Trump Reportedly Plans to Remove 15,000 Transgender Troops from the Military on His First Day in Office

President-elect Donald Trump is reportedly planning to sign an executive order on his first day in office, January 20, 2025, to ban transgender individuals from serving in the military.

The proposed order could lead to the “medical discharge” of up to 15,000 active-duty transgender service members, labeling them unfit for service.

The order would also prevent transgender individuals from enlisting in the military, which is already facing recruitment challenges across all branches.

This controversial decision is expected to reignite debates surrounding transgender rights and military inclusivity.

Former President Donald Trump, now 78, has nominated former Fox News host Pete Hegseth to lead the Department of Defense as part of his administration’s broader goal to eliminate what he describes as “woke” policies in government agencies.

In a recent podcast interview, Hegseth criticized the inclusion of transgender individuals in the military, describing it as “pushing boundaries.”

He argued that integrating transgender individuals is more complex than racial integration, claiming it introduces “complications and differences” due to medical needs.

Hegseth further stated that transgender service members are “not deployable” because they are “reliant on chemicals,” a reference to the medical treatments and hormone therapies often required for their care.

These remarks align with the administration’s stance on rolling back policies that allowed transgender individuals to serve openly in the armed forces.