US President Donald Trump signed four more executive orders on Monday, among other things, to reinstate thousands of troops who were kicked out of the military for refusing the COVID-19 vaccines during the pandemic and to eliminate “gender radicalism in the military,” Reuters reported.
Trump signed the orders aboard Air Force One as he flew back to Washington from Miami.
One order would reinstate around 8,200 military personnel who were discharged for refusing to comply with the Pentagon’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate, CBS News reported.
In January 2023, around 110 service members rejoined the military after the mandate was rescinded under Joe Biden.
An executive order regarding transgender troop members said that expressing a “gender identity” different from an individual’s sex at birth does not “meet military standards.”
However, the order does not state if transgender soldiers will be barred from serving in the military or if the nearly 15,000 current transgender active-duty members will be able to continue to serve.
Another order signed on Monday directs the development of what his administration has dubbed “an American Iron Dome,” apparently a “next generation” version of Israel’s short-range missile interception system with the same name.
Since taking office one week ago, Trump has signed a flurry of executive orders, the latest of which could reshape the management, composition, and logistics of the US military.