Trump Admin Curtailed DEI Programs in Military, Hegseth Claims

Pete Hegseth recently claimed that "99.9%" of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives have been eliminated from the military under the Trump administration. Speaking on Fox News, Hegseth highlighted policy changes enacted during Trump's presidency as evidence of this shift. Key among these changes was the ban on transgender individuals serving openly in the military, a policy that faced legal challenges and widespread criticism.

Beyond the transgender ban, the Trump administration also implemented other measures that aimed to reshape the military's approach to diversity and inclusion. While the specific details of all these initiatives are complex, the general thrust was to prioritize what the administration considered to be merit-based systems and a focus on core military skills.

Critics of these changes argue that they undermine efforts to create a more inclusive and representative military, potentially harming morale and readiness. Supporters, on the other hand, contend that these policies are necessary to ensure that the military remains focused on its primary mission of national defense, free from what they see as divisive social agendas. The debate surrounding DEI in the military is likely to continue, regardless of which administration is in power.