Trump has issued a number of orders affecting the military. Here's what they do

On Monday night, President Trump signed a series of executive orders focused on the U.S. military. These orders have been characterized by some reports as part of a broader effort to overhaul the military, though the full impact on the massive institution of the Pentagon is still unclear. Below is a summary of the key actions included in the signed orders:

President Trump has signed an executive order aimed at creating :  A "next-generation missile defense shield" for the U.S., inspired by Israel's Iron Dome defense system. The order calls for the Defense Secretary to present a detailed plan for the new defense system within 60 days. This initiative is part of Trump's broader "America First" agenda, following through on a campaign promise to enhance U.S. military defenses. However, questions remain about the feasibility and necessity of this new shield, particularly regarding the protection against intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs), which is different from the threat Israel’s Iron Dome addresses—namely, short-range rockets. 

While Israel's Iron Dome is designed to intercept short-range missiles, the U.S. faces a different challenge with ICBMs, which are countered through a limited interceptor missile system based primarily in Alaska and California. The Biden administration has already been working to upgrade these interceptors, and discussions have been underway to expand the system to include additional interceptors in the Midwest or East Coast. Trump had previously proposed expanding missile defense during his first term.

The new executive order goes beyond existing systems, suggesting the development of space-based missile defenses, a project that could take years to fully deploy. Details about the specific nature of the proposed "Iron Dome" are unclear, but experts believe the review might focus on expanding missile defense capabilities in space, incorporating sensors and interceptors. The plan could also involve enhancing ground-based interceptors to address emerging threats like cruise missiles and hypersonic missiles, which have become more prominent in global conflicts such as the ongoing war in Ukraine. However, experts caution that expanding missile defense could be extremely costly, possibly reaching hundreds of billions of dollars.

President Trump has signed an executive order aimed  At "Restoring America's Fighting Force," which directs the U.S. Armed Forces to operate without any racial or gender-based preferences. The order mandates the elimination of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) offices and programs within the Department of Defense and the Department of Homeland Security. It also prohibits the promotion of "divisive concepts," such as claims that "America's founding documents are racist or sexist." This move follows an earlier order by Trump on his first day in office, which sought to end DEI mandates across the federal government. Monday's order specifically outlines these expectations for the military.

Trump officials have criticized the military's DEI programs, using terms like "woke" to describe them, but military leaders argue that such characterizations are either inaccurate or overstated. For instance, former Army Secretary Christine Wormuth told NPR in December that the military dedicates minimal time—about one hour in basic training—on equal opportunity training compared to extensive hours on combat training. According to Wormuth, the military’s primary focus remains on being "lethal" and ready to win wars, with equal opportunity training not overshadowing that goal.

The U.S. military has long emphasized the importance of a diverse force, reflecting America's demographics at all levels. Efforts have been made to increase diversity within the officer corps, but critics like Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth have challenged DEI initiatives. Hegseth, a commentator and writer, previously criticized Joint Chiefs Chairman General CQ Brown, who is Black, for his pursuit of DEI policies, even suggesting Brown should be fired. However, this week, Hegseth stated that he would work with Brown moving forward. This raises questions about Hegseth's stance on diversity in the military, particularly regarding the hiring of senior officials based on diversity, and whether any would face dismissal.

President Trump has signed  An executive order prioritizing military excellence and readiness, which asserts that service members with gender dysphoria, or those using pronouns that do not align with their biological sex, are unfit to serve in the U.S. military. The order specifically targets individuals with "shifting pronoun usage" and those whose pronouns do not accurately reflect their sex.

This move comes amid ongoing debate over the inclusion of transgender troops in the military. Advocates estimate that there are approximately 15,000 transgender service members out of 2.3 million total active-duty personnel, with fewer than 2,000 having been diagnosed with gender dysphoria or undergoing surgeries related to gender transition. However, the new executive order frames transgender identity in broad, dismissive terms, signaling the introduction of a policy that could be even more restrictive than the ban on transgender service members implemented during Trump’s first term. This executive action sets the stage for potentially more punitive measures regarding transgender military service.

President Trump has issued    An executive order that allows the reinstatement of service members who were discharged for refusing to comply with the military's COVID-19 vaccination mandate. According to the new directive, these service members will return to their previous rank and will be entitled to full back pay, benefits, and any bonuses or compensation they were owed during their discharge. The number of individuals impacted by the order is not immediately clear, but it is believed that a significant portion of the military followed the mandate during the pandemic.

The order follows a provision in the 2023 Defense Authorization Act, which called for the reinstatement of thousands of soldiers who had been discharged for their refusal to take the COVID vaccine. Most of those affected were younger service members, with many having served for only a few years. Since the mandate was enforced, approximately 80 soldiers have already been reinstated into the Army. The move comes as part of broader efforts to address personnel issues in the military following the pandemic and the controversial vaccination requirements.

References:

• (No date a) YouTube. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tcTBUKxXxA8 (Accessed: 29 January 2025).
• (No date b) YouTube. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bH-N-FBCO88 (Accessed: 29 January 2025).
• Bowman, T. (2025) Trump has issued a number of orders affecting the military. here’s what they do, NPR. Available at: https://www.npr.org/2025/01/28/nx-s1-5277155/trump-military-transgender-dei-iron-dome-orders (Accessed: 29 January 2025).
• Restoring America’s Fighting Force (2025) The White House. Available at: https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/01/restoring-americas-fighting-force/ (Accessed: 29 January 2025).