Reports suggest that U.S. President-elect Donald Trump intends to remove 15,000 transgender service members from the military.

There are reports suggesting that U.S. President-elect Donald Trump intends to dismiss 15,000 transgender military personnel from service. According to sources within The Times' military coverage, Mr. Trump is planning to issue an executive order that would remove all transgender individuals from the military.

The order could be signed as soon as he returns to the White House on January 20, 2025, the sources say. The transgender personnel would be medically discharged under this directive, which would deem them unfit for service, as reported by The Times.

At 78 years old, Mr. Trump has been outspoken against what he refers to as 'woke' practices within the military. He has criticized high-ranking officers who, according to him, prioritize diversity, equity, and inclusion over military readiness and planning for combat.

This new directive is expected to be broader in scope than the previous ban issued during Mr. Trump’s first term, which prevented transgender individuals from enlisting in the armed forces, though it allowed those already serving to retain their positions.

The ban was reversed by outgoing President Joe Biden, but sources indicate that the new order would affect even those with decades of service, removing them from their roles.

Rachel Branaman, the executive director of the Modern Military Association of America, argued that such a ban would severely harm the military's readiness. Branaman, whose organization advocates for LGBTQ+ military members and veterans, warned that it would further exacerbate challenges in military recruitment and retention, while also sending a signal of vulnerability to America's adversaries.

She emphasized that discharging over 15,000 service members abruptly, especially considering that military recruitment fell short by 41,000 recruits last year, would place additional strain on warfighting units, disrupt unit cohesion, and create significant skill shortages. She also highlighted the financial toll and the loss of experience and leadership, which could take decades and billions of dollars to replace.