Trump Moves to Eradicate DEI Programs from Military

President Trump’s recent executive orders signal a move to terminate DEI initiatives in the military, aiming to redefine recruitment strategies and military training standards.

In a decisive move, President Donald Trump is expected to sign executive orders on Monday that will dismantle the diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs within the Department of Defense. This shift aligns with Trump’s campaign promise to eliminate what he considers discriminatory practices in the military. Alongside the DEI initiative removal, a second executive order will direct officials to create new policies concerning the service of transgender individuals in the military. A third order focuses on reinstating military personnel who were discharged for refusing the Covid-19 vaccine during the pandemic.

Supporters of DEI programs argue that these initiatives help combat historical underrepresentation and discrimination within the military ranks, while detractors maintain that such programs could perpetuate discrimination against certain groups by favoring based on race or gender. According to a White House statement, the upcoming orders will prohibit any preferences based on race or sex in military recruitment, and it will also eliminate existing DEI-related structures from the Department of Defense and the Department of Homeland Security.

As part of this reformatting stance, military academies will undergo curriculum reviews to assess any inclusion of what the Trump administration calls "radical" DEI or gender ideologies. The specific initiatives targeted by this new mandate are yet to be disclosed. A review by the Defense Department's Board on Diversity and Inclusion in December 2020 recommended several changes, including making amendments to test criteria that may adversely impact diversity and embedding DEI values in military leadership training.

Furthermore, the orders around transgender service members will not outright prohibit their participation but will compel the military to amend existing guidelines. Notably, the use of gender-specific pronouns will be banned, and biological males will be barred from using facilities reserved for women. The Trump administration argues that these changes are vital to enhance recruitment efforts, particularly as branches of the military missed their recruitment targets by a staggering 41,000 personnel in the last fiscal year.

Newly appointed Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has been a vocal support of reforming the military's approach to diversity initiatives, stating that the focus should remain on readiness and operational capabilities. During a press briefing, Hegseth emphasized that military training will pivot to address the immediate needs of troops.

In addition to the DEI orders, Trump’s third executive order aims to reinstate approximately 8,000 military personnel who were dismissed for refusing the Covid-19 vaccine, enabling them to regain their ranks, back pay, and benefits. Critics have raised concerns that reinstating these individuals could undermine military discipline protocols, referencing the potential long-term implications on vaccination compliance among troops.

Immediately after taking office, Trump directed that all government employees involved in DEI programs be placed on paid administrative leave, with a hard deadline for the closure of their offices. He described DEI initiatives as “dangerous, demeaning, and immoral,” setting the tone for his administration’s military policy going forward.