Trump planning trans army ban on first days in office

Donald Trump is expected to sign an executive order that would remove transgender service members from the military, as soon as his first day in office.

- ALEX WOODWARD, OLIVER O'CONNELL

The US president-elect is reportedly preparing to issue an order following his inauguration on 20 January, which would effectively ban trans people serving in the military – and then medically discharge the thousands of currently serving trans service members in the armed forces.

In his first term in office, Mr Trump declared that the US would no longer “accept or allow” trans people in the military, citing “tremendous medical costs and disruption,” he wrote in 2017. The ban took effect in 2019.

President Joe Biden reversed that policy, which was the subject of several lawsuits. Now, Mr Trump is expected to immediately rescind Mr Biden’s order and go further by ejecting currentlyserving trans troops, according to The Times, citing sources familiar with the president-elect’s plans.

The executive action is among a stack of orders the presidentelect is planning to issue as soon as he re-enters the White House, including sweeping actions on immigration, all of which are expected to draw significant legal battles.