Donald Trump has returned to the White House for a second term, stepping back into the role of Commander-in-Chief.
With global tensions rising and conflicts reshaping alliances, the United States military remains a central force in maintaining stability.
As one of the most powerful military forces in the world, its policies and leadership decisions impact not only the country but also international affairs.
Now, with new executive orders, the administration is making immediate changes to military policies that will shape the direction of the armed forces.
On Monday, Trump signed four executive orders that bring major shifts to the military.
These include banning transgender individuals from serving, dismantling diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs, and reinstating service members who were dismissed for refusing the COVID-19 vaccine, with back pay.
The orders were signed aboard Air Force One as Trump traveled back to Washington, D.C, according to Hotnews.
These changes follow the confirmation of Pete Hegseth as Secretary of Defense. Hegseth, a strong supporter of Trump’s military policies, has pledged to restructure the armed forces and remove what he sees as distractions from combat readiness.
One of his primary goals is to eliminate DEI initiatives, which were designed to create opportunities for women, ethnic minorities, and LGBTQ+ service members.
Shortly after arriving at the Pentagon, Hegseth spoke with reporters, stating that more executive actions would soon be implemented.
He stressed that his priority is enforcing Trump’s directives swiftly and ensuring that personnel affected by previous policies are reinstated.
Trump’s decision to reinstate the ban on transgender service members marks a return to a policy he introduced in 2017 during his first term.
That ban was later reversed by President Joe Biden in 2021, allowing transgender individuals to serve openly.
With this new order, Trump has once again restricted their participation in the armed forces.
