Jan 27, 2025
Welcome to The Hill's Defense & NatSec newsletter{beacon} Defense &National Security Defense &National Security   The Big Story  A wave of executive orders to shake up PentagonPresident Trump is expected to sign four executive orders that would shake up the military, impacting transgender people in the ranks and reinstating service members booted for failing to get vaccinated against COVID-19.© Mark Schiefelbein, Associated Press Among the orders would be those that banned transgender service members from openly serving in the U.S. military, cutting Diversity, Equity and Inclusion programs within the ranks, and reinstating individuals kicked out for refusing the coronavirus vaccine — with full backpay and benefits.     Trump has already revoked an executive order signed by former President Biden in 2021 that allowed transgender people to serve and prevented the military from discharging soldiers because of their gender identity. Trump also signed a sweeping executive order recognizing only two genders, male and female.    Monday’s executive order builds on those efforts, directing Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who previously criticized allowing transgender people to serve, to outline new military readiness requirements that declare transgender troops are not physically or mentally capable of doing so. It tasks Hegseth with acting against “the use of invented and identification-based pronouns” within the department.   Hegseth, who was sworn in as defense secretary on Saturday, previously said he planned to remove “woke” service members and end DEI initiatives, part of a broader implementation of cultural changes to the military. After arriving at the Pentagon Monday morning, Hegseth said there are “more executive orders coming.”   “Today, there are more executive orders coming, . . . on removing DEI inside the Pentagon, reinstating troops who were pushed out because of Covid mandates, iron dome for America — this is happening quickly, and as the secretary of defense, it’s an honor to salute smartly as I did as a junior officer and now as the secretary of defense to ensure these orders are complied with rapidly and quickly,” Hegseth told reporters.  Trump in 2017 first banned transgender individuals from serving in the military while in his first term, but then-President Biden repealed the ban in a 2021 order.  Monday’s executive order, according to the fact sheet, argues that allowing transgender people to serve openly in the military has undermined military readiness and “unit cohesion,” an argument that has long been used to prevent marginalized communities, including Black and gay Americans and women, from serving.  The COVID-19 executive order, meanwhile, makes good on a Trump campaign promise and is something he previewed during his inaugural address.  Hegseth also vowed to reinstate military members dismissed over the COVID-19 shot, saying during his confirmation hearing that those service members “will be apologized to. They will be reinstated, reinstituted with pay and rank.”   From August 2021 to January 2023, the Biden administration and former Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin discharged more than 8,000 troops over their refusal to get a mandated COVID-19 shot, with limited exceptions for medical issues or religious objections.   That number represented less than 1 percent of the total military strength, but the dismissals became a rallying cry for Republicans who accused Biden officials of hampering military readiness and of religious discrimination.  Read the full report at TheHill.com.  Welcome to The Hill’s Defense & National Security newsletter, I'm Ellen Mitchell — your guide to the latest developments at the Pentagon, on Capitol Hill and beyond.  Did someone forward you this newsletter? Subscribe here.   Essential Reads  How policy will affect defense and national security now and inthe future:  GOP lawmakers grumble over Trump’s billionaire kitchen CabinetSome GOP lawmakers are grumbling over President Trump’s “Kitchen Cabinet” of billionaire allies such as Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and Google CEO Sundar Pichai, who were featured prominently at Trump’s inauguration last week.  But more egregious than any of those boldfaced names was TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew’s place of honor onstage at the inauguration. Trump gave TikTok a major reprieve shortly …  Full Story  Air Force resumes instruction with Tuskegee Airmen video after review The U.S. Air Force resumed a course using training material that referred to the Tuskegee Airmen after the Trump administration’s rollback of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives caused an internal review, according to The Associated Press.   Full Story  Hegseth vows more Trump actions on militaryNew Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth says there will soon be more executive orders from President Trump as he seeks to reshape and revamp the U.S. military. Hegseth arrived at the Pentagon on Monday morning for his first day leading the department after being narrowly confirmed by the Senate last week. He referred specifically to Trump’s efforts to purge diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) policies from the federal government. …  Full Story   On Our Radar  Upcoming things we're watching on our beat:  The Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee will hold a hearing on “Examining the Panama Canal and Its Impact on U.S. Trade and National Security,” with testimony from Federal Maritime Commission Chairman Louis Sola, at 10 a.m. tomorrow.The Senate Armed Services Committee will hold a hearing on the nomination of Daniel Driscoll to be secretary of the Army at 9:30 a.m. Thursday.  The Senate Intelligence Committee will consider the nomination of Tulsi Gabbard to be director of national intelligence at 10 a.m. Thursday.   In Other News  Branch out with a different read from The Hill:Trump fires all three Democrats on privacy oversight board President Trump on Monday fired all three Democrats on the Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board (PCLOB), bringing much of its work to a standstill. The move guts a board designed to ensure the government’s work to fight terrorism is balanced with protections for civil liberties. The … Full Story   On Tap Tomorrow  Events in and around the defense world:  The Intelligence and National Security Alliance will host a discussion on “Fast-Tracking Innovation: Cyber Command’s New Acquisition Authorities,” at 8:30 a.m. The Senate Armed Services Committee will hold a hearing on “Defense Innovation and Acquisition Reform,” at 9:30 a.m.  Wilson Center will have an online talk on “The North Caucasus and Russia’s Invasion of Ukraine,” at 11 a.m.  A Defense One virtual discussion will explore “Artificial Intelligence in the Skies: The U.S. Air Force’s Path to next-Gen Air Superiority,” at 2 p.m.  George Washington University’s Elliott School of International Affairs will discuss “The Future of Syria,” at 2:30 p.m.   What We're Reading  News we've flagged from other outlets: As Hegseth takes charge at the Pentagon, here’s what changes could be in store (The Associated Press) VA, DOD oversight questioned after Trump inspector general firings (Military Times)  Trending Today  Two key stories on The Hill right now: Gabbard’s path through Intelligence Committee narrows ahead of key hearing Republicans are cautioning that Tulsi Gabbard’s path to confirmation to lead the U.S. intelligence apparatus is narrowing as she seemingly has trouble … Read more Live updates: Trump addresses House Republicans; Senate confirms Treasury secretary President Trump is set to address the House Republicans at their annual policy retreat in Florida, while the Senate votes on the confirmation of his … Read more  Opinions in The Hill Op-eds related to defense & national security submitted to The Hill: Women, gays, transgender and queer Americans serve in the military because men won’tWhat part of Putin’s capitulation demands don’t you understand? It’s Donald Trump’s world now to win or lose  You're all caught up. See you tomorrow!  Check out The Hill's Defense page for the latest coverage. Like this newsletter? Take a moment to view all our topical emails here 📩 Close Thank you for signing up! Subscribe to more newsletters here The latest in politics and policy. Direct to your inbox. Sign up for the Defense and National Security newsletter Subscribe ...read more read less
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