**President Trump Signs Four Executive Orders to Strengthen U.S. Military**
President Trump signed four executive orders on Monday, including creating a U.S. version of the “Iron Dome” defense system and abolishing DEI policies in the military, aimed at enhancing the excellence of the U.S. military to make it the “most lethal and efficient fighting force in the world” to protect the American people and the nation.
The four executive orders include: developing a next-generation missile defense system to protect the United States, namely the U.S. version of the “Iron Dome” system; banning transgender individuals from openly serving in the military; reinstating the duties of discharged service members who refused to take the COVID-19 vaccine; and abolishing DEI policies in the military. President Trump provided explanations for each executive order.
In the executive order to create the U.S. version of the “Iron Dome” defense system, the President outlined the purpose of this action, emphasizing the contemporary threats facing the United States.
“Ballistic missiles, hypersonic missiles, cruise missiles, and other advanced aerial threats continue to be the most catastrophic threats facing the United States,” Trump stated in the executive order.
He further added that President Reagan worked on establishing an effective defense system against nuclear attacks, but it was canceled before reaching its goal. Since the U.S. withdrew from the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty in 2002 and began developing a limited national missile defense system, the official U.S. policy on missile defense has been focused on preventing threats from rogue states and accidental or unauthorized missile launches.
“For the past 40 years, as peer and near-peer competitors develop next-generation delivery systems and their homeland integrated air and missile defense capabilities, the threat from next-generation strategic weapons has not only failed to decrease but has become more intense and complex,” Trump said, emphasizing the need to deploy and maintain the next-generation missile defense system to ensure that the U.S. can “achieve peace through strength.”
The President directed the Department of Defense to submit a reference framework and implementation plan for the “next-generation missile defense system” within 60 days.
During the 2024 election campaign, Trump repeatedly promised to create a system similar to Israel’s “Iron Dome.” Israel’s most active and well-known air defense system is the “Iron Dome.” Since 2011, the Iron Dome has intercepted thousands of rockets launched by Palestinian militants in Gaza.
In another executive order, Trump revoked the executive order issued by his predecessor, former President Biden in 2021, allowing transgender individuals to serve in the military. Trump also instructed Defense Secretary Hagasez to develop new military readiness requirements.
The President stated that the U.S. military must become the “most lethal and efficient fighting force globally” to defend the nation and its people, emphasizing that cultivating essential warrior spirit is crucial to fulfilling this mission vital to survival.
“For our country and the patriotic Americans who volunteer to serve our country, military service must be reserved for those who are mentally and physically fit to serve. The armed forces must adhere to high standards of mental and physical health to ensure our military can deploy, fight, and win, including in harsh conditions and without routine medical or special accommodations,” Trump said.
Trump had promised during the election campaign to reinstate military personnel who were dismissed or forced to leave the military due to refusing the COVID-19 vaccine. Later on Monday, he fulfilled this promise by signing an executive order allowing these personnel to regain their “original rank and receive full back pay, benefits, bonuses, or compensation.”
“Mandatory vaccines impose an unjust, overly broad, and entirely unnecessary burden on our service members,” the President stated in the executive order. “Moreover, the military unjustly discharged those who refused the vaccine, denying many of them the exemptions they deserved for their years of service to our country.”
On Monday, President Trump signed an executive order abolishing DEI policies in the Department of Defense and the Department of Homeland Security. In the executive order, he stated, “I have always been committed to a policy of hiring based on merit, eliminating racial and gender discrimination within the U.S. Armed Forces.”
The DEI program refers to the “diverse, equitable, and inclusive” policy that considers quotas for representatives of groups such as women, minorities, and LGBTQ+ in the workplace.
“No individual or group within our armed forces should be treated preferentially or discriminated against based on gender, race, ethnicity, color, or faith,” Trump said. “Unfortunately, in recent years, both civilian and military leadership have implemented DEI programs within the armed forces, along with accompanying racial and gender preferences. These actions undermine leadership, performance, and unit cohesion, weakening lethality and force readiness. Furthermore, these practices actually perpetuate racial and gender discrimination, contrary to the conscience of Americans.”