President Donald Trump signed an executive order Monday night that repeals a provision allowing transgender troops to serve in the military, part of a wide-ranging effort to end Biden-era policies his first day in office.
Trump issued a ban during his first administration that prevented transgender troops from serving, which former President Joe Biden eliminated. While Trump did not institute a new ban, the repeal of the Biden-era executive order clears the way for one.
The president, in a separate set of executive orders, declared the government would recognize only two sexes — male and female. He also rolled back diversity and inclusion programs across all federal agencies.
The Department of Defense, in 2019, estimated that up to 8,000 transgender people served in the military, just before Trump’s first ban took effect.
