Could Trump’s executive order ban transgender military from serving at Fort Moore?
Among the flurry of executive orders President Trump has signed in his first few weeks in office, is Executive Order 14168, titled “Defending Women From Gender Ideology Extremism and Restoring Biological Truth to the Federal Government,” issued on Monday, Jan. 20, 2025.
The Ledger-Enquirer obtained a copy of the order and an accompanying memo from a civilian healthcare worker employed at Fort Moore, who wishes to remain anonymous for fear of retaliation or termination.
The source received the memo via email on the afternoon of Friday, Jan. 31, along with all departments and agencies from Charles Ezell, Acting Director, U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM).
The purpose of the memo is to offer initial guidance on the enforcement of anti-trans policies and protocols.
What is in Executive Order 14168?
The official goal of the executive order is “to take steps to defend women from the harmful effects of gender ideology,” by ending “all Department programs that promote or reflect gender ideology.”
However, in execution, the directive will penalize active and reserve duty members for identifying as anything other than the gender they were assigned at birth.
The order also mandates government employees and departments use specific language, set forth by the administration, banning the acknowledgment and use of the concept of “gender.”
What impact will the execution of the order have on transgender service members?
Under the guise of “protecting women’s rights,” the order may have widespread and harmful repercussions for the 14,700 transgender people currently serving, likely banning them from service no matter their record of service.
The Ledger’s source works on Fort Moore and worries that long-term soldiers will be removed from service or forced out for “no reason” and is “appalled” that some of their clients and patients will be forced out “for no good reason.”
In a Tuesday, Jan. 28, press release, the Modern Military Association of America “strongly condemned” the executive order, calling it “a significant step backward for military readiness and equality” and believes it will effectively ban transgender individuals altogether from service.
How will Fort Moore enforce the order?
The memo obtained by the Ledger set a deadline Friday, Jan. 31, at 5 p.m. to “end federal funding of gender ideology” to all the departments of the federal government, and Fort Moore is no exception.
Departments have to do the following to comply with the order:
Review all agency programs, contracts and grants, and terminate any that promote or inculcate gender ideology.
Notify employees whose roles involve promoting gender ideology that they are placed on immediate paid leave.
Take down all outward-facing media (websites, social media accounts, etc.) that inculcate or promote gender ideology.
Turn off features that prompt users for their pronouns in email systems.
Withdraw any documents, directives, orders, regulations, materials, forms, communications, statements and plans that inculcate or promote gender ideology.
Cancel any training that inculcate or promote gender ideology or have done so in the past.
Disband or cancel any employee resource groups or special emphasis programs that inculcate or promote gender ideology or have done so in the past.
Review all agency forms that require entry of an individual’s sex and ensure that all list male or female only, and not gender identity. Remove requests for “gender” and substitute requests for “sex.”
Ensure that all applicable agency policies and documents, including forms, use the term “sex” and not “gender.”
Ensure that intimate spaces designated for women, girls or females (or for men, boys or males) are designated by biological sex and not gender identity.
Department heads have to offer a progress report to the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) by Friday, Feb 7, detailing what actions they plan to take to implement this guidance.
Questions from employees or their supervisors should be sent to the OPM at defendingwomen@opm.gov.
Executive orders can be challenged, and are not law in the traditional sense. The orders apply only to the executive branch of the federal government and its employees.
According to the Federal Judicial Center, courts may strike down executive orders not only on the grounds that the president lacked the authority to issue them but also in cases where the order is found to be unconstitutional in substance.
Are you concerned about Fort Moore? What are your reactions to the implementation of the order? Email me at srose@ledger-enquirer.com or find me on Instagram.
This story was originally published February 4, 2025 at 2:04 PM.
