"Recruitment and Medical Support for Transgender Individuals Suspended"
Issues Arise in Both Personnel Replacement and Recruitment
Following U.S. President Donald Trump's ban on transgender military personnel, the U.S. Department of Defense announced that transgender individuals will be excluded from new recruit enlistment, sparking controversy both inside and outside the United States. President Trump and his aides argue that completely removing transgender individuals from the military will preserve the combat effectiveness of the U.S. armed forces and improve recruitment. However, frontline commanders are concerned that this could weaken combat power. If all an estimated 20,000 transgender service members in the U.S. military are discharged, there are fears that replacing these personnel will be difficult, and already challenging recruitment efforts will become even harder.
U.S. Secretary of Defense: "Recruitment and Medical Support for Transgender Individuals Suspended"
On the 10th (local time), U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth issued an order excluding transgender individuals from recruitment. Secretary Hegseth stated in the order that "new enlistment of individuals with gender dysphoria will be halted" and "all medical procedures related to confirming or facilitating transgender status will also be stopped."
This order is seen as a follow-up measure after President Trump issued an executive order last month banning transgender military personnel. On the 27th of last month, President Trump declared through an executive order that "allowing service members whose gender identity differs from their biological sex to serve conflicts with the honor and discipline required by the military and could negatively impact military readiness," thereby banning transgender individuals from serving.
The ban on transgender military personnel was initially imposed during President Trump's first term in 2017 but was rescinded by the succeeding Joe Biden administration in 2021, allowing transgender individuals to serve again. This new order effectively reinstates the ban after four years. Transgender service members have filed constitutional lawsuits against President Trump's executive order, and currently, two related federal constitutional lawsuits are ongoing.
Estimated Over 20,000 Transgender Service Members in U.S. Military... Challenges in Personnel Replacement and Recruitment
Exterior view of the Pentagon, the U.S. Department of Defense headquarters. Photo by AFP and Yonhap News Agency
If the ban on transgender service members is fully enforced, nearly 20,000 personnel are expected to be removed from the military. The U.S. transgender military advocacy group "Sparta Pride" estimates that between 15,000 and 25,000 transgender individuals currently serve in the U.S. military, accounting for over 1% of the total force.
If a significant number of personnel suddenly leave the force, there is concern that a shortage of replacement troops could immediately cause a loss in combat capability. The Associated Press reported, "If service members preparing for overseas deployment or combat missions are immediately discharged, it will cause major disruptions to military readiness." It also noted that since the exact number of transgender service members in the military is not clearly known, efforts to identify transgender personnel will continue, raising concerns that this could lead to a witch hunt.
Completely excluding transgender individuals from recruitment is also feared to make military recruitment even more difficult. According to the Associated Press, the U.S. military has struggled with personnel recruitment for over a decade, and considering physical illnesses, drug use, and criminal records, only about 23% of American adults currently qualify to pass military service screening.
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
