US President-elect Donald Trump is expected to sign an executive order removing transgender service members from the US military shortly after his return to the White House on January 20. According to a report from The Times, the order could lead to the dismissal of approximately 15,000 transgender individuals currently serving, by categorizing them as medically unfit for duty.

Sources within the defense sector suggest that the directive would also prevent transgender individuals from joining the military in the future, solidifying Trump’s ongoing stance against what he has termed “woke” military policies. The order is anticipated to be signed on Trump’s first day back in office, aligning with his campaign promises to undo various policies introduced by the previous administration.

Trump has previously made headlines for his strong anti-transgender stance, having issued similar bans during his first term, which faced backlash from military experts and LGBTQ+ advocacy groups. His campaign rhetoric also focused on military “purity,” including a controversial ad that depicted transgender individuals as weak, with a slogan that declared, “WE WILL NOT HAVE A WOKE MILITARY!”

The move comes amid broader concerns over Trump’s proposed use of military personnel for domestic policies. He has suggested that the military could be mobilized to aid in mass deportations of undocumented immigrants and address domestic unrest, raising alarms among experts about the potential violation of laws and the risk of eroding public trust in the military.

Military leaders have expressed concerns that such proposals could undermine the role of the armed forces, which remains one of the most respected institutions in the United States, and could deepen divisions among the American public.