31 January 2025,   02:03
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Trump signs executive orders for military, focusing on transgender service members, COVID, diversity

President Trump signed multiple executive orders that could reshape the management and composition of the military, with provisions addressing diversity measures, transgender service members, and troops who were discharged for refusing COVID vaccinations, writes CBS NEWS.

He also signed an executive order to establish a process to develop what the administration is calling an American Iron Dome - a missile defense shield for the homeland. (Iron Dome is the name often used for Israel’s system for intercepting rockets, which was developed with U.S. support.)

Mr. Trump signed the 4 orders aboard Air Force One as he flew back to Washington from a stop in Florida.

One of the orders would reinstate members of the military who were discharged for refusing to get the COVID-19 vaccine. About 8,200 service members were discharged for refusing to comply with the Pentagon’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate, according to data provided by the service branches. However, the mandate was rescinded in January 2023 by the Biden administration, and since then, about 110 service members have rejoined the military.

The president also signed an executive order directing the Pentagon to determine a policy for transgender service members based on readiness within 30 days. The action does not immediately ban transgender service members, however, it does state that the Defense Department’s policy for troop readiness is “inconsistent with the medical, surgical, and mental health constraints on individuals with gender dysphoria”.

The order also states that identifying as a gender that is inconsistent with one’s biological sex “conflicts with a soldier’s commitment to an honorable, truthful, and disciplined lifestyle, even in one’s personal life” and that those doing so “cannot satisfy the rigorous standards necessary for military service”.

Speaking about his plans at a retreat with House Republicans Monday at his property in Doral, Florida, Mr. Trump said, “To ensure we have the most lethal fighting force in the world, we will get transgender ideology the hell out of our military. It’s going to be gone”.

Another order addresses diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives in the military, banning the use of race- or sex-based preferences in the armed forces, the Defense Department and the Homeland Security Department.

“I ordered the end to all of the lawless diversity, equity and inclusion nonsense policies across the government and all across the private sector and the military”, - Mr. Trump said at the House GOP retreat. “We’re getting it out and we’ve gotten it out pretty much. We did that in one week, and it wasn’t that easy, but everybody wanted it”.

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