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President Donald Trump is expected to sign an executive order eliminating diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives from the US military, according to reports.

As reported by the BBC, the order—set to be enacted on Monday, 3 February – would remove DEI policies from the Department of Defense as part of a broader series of military-focused executive orders. DEI initiatives have historically aimed to provide equitable opportunities for marginalised groups, particularly in professional settings.

Additionally, a second executive order is expected to direct US officials to draft a policy regarding transgender service members. This follows Trump’s earlier pledge to reinstate a ban on transgender individuals serving in the military.

Meanwhile, a third order will reportedly reinstate service members who were discharged for refusing to receive COVID-19 vaccinations.

A White House spokesperson told the BBC that the order would prohibit what the Trump-Vance administration refers to as “discriminatory race or sex-based preferences” within the military, Department of Defense, and Department of Homeland Security. Any remaining DEI-related structures within these departments would also be dismantled.

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In response to the impending changes, reports suggest that the US Air Force has been reviewing training material related to the contributions of Black and female pilots during World War II to ensure compliance with the new directive.

Trump has repeatedly positioned himself as an opponent of what he calls “wokeness” in government. Speaking at a rally in Las Vegas on Saturday, 25 January, the 78-year-old president celebrated his recent executive actions, claiming they had effectively removed “the woke cr*p” from government policies.

During his speech, Trump also asserted—without evidence—that businesses had never truly supported DEI initiatives but were instead pressured into adopting them. “I don’t think they believed it,” he claimed, adding that he had “got rid of the woke cr*p.”

Despite some corporations rolling back their DEI commitments in recent years—such as Harley Davidson, McDonald’s, and Coors Light—many major US companies have reaffirmed their support for such initiatives.

For example, tech giant Apple recently rejected a proposal to eliminate its DEI programmes, with its board deeming the move “unnecessary” and restrictive. Similarly, Microsoft has reaffirmed its dedication to DEI policies despite growing conservative opposition.

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