Common Defense Veterans Condemn Trump’s Executive Orders Reshaping Military Service
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 28, 2025
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Last night, President Donald Trump signed four executive orders that undermine our military’s strength and betray the service members who defend our nation. These orders include barring transgender people from enlisting and serving openly, eliminating the military’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion programs, and shamefully reinstating service members who were discharged for refusing to comply with lawfully given orders requiring COVID-19 vaccinations. These reckless actions roll back hard-won progress toward a more inclusive and equitable military and attack the values of diversity and unity that make our armed forces strong. At Common Defense, we know that true patriotism means defending the rights of all Americans, not catering solely to the prejudices of an authoritarian leader.
Veterans of Common Defense issued the following statements:
"As a veteran who identifies as transgender, I honorably wore not one but two uniforms for two different branches of service during my enlistment. I did so with pride and served my country honorably, just like any other service member has. To be told that my identity would disqualify me from service is not only a slap to the face but also to the values of fairness and equality that our service members are expected to uphold. This decision isn’t about readiness or cohesion, it’s about prejudice, plain and simple. It disrespects the sacrifices made by countless transgender service members, including myself, who have served and sacrificed for this country." - Lene Mees de Tricht (she/her), U.S. Navy and U.S. Coast Guard Veteran
"Stripping diversity, equity, and inclusion programs and maliciously banning transgender service members from our military is an affront to the values of fairness and respect that every service member deserves. It reeks of the same bigotry of Don’t Ask Don’t Tell and undesirable discharges. By gutting DEI efforts, this administration is turning its back on decades of progress that have made our military stronger, smarter, and more cohesive. Trump does not care about the people who serve our nation in uniform. He cares about scoring cheap political points at the expense of the brave men and women who risk their lives for our country. This decision prioritizes division over unity and sends a clear signal that inclusion is expendable. As veterans, we know firsthand the power of a military united by shared purpose, not divided by exclusion." - Jacob Thomas, USAF veteran and Communications Director for Common Defense
###
Common Defense Civic Engagement is a grassroots, veteran-led organization (501c4) that was founded in 2016. We empower veterans to stand up for our communities against the rising tide of racism, hate, and violence, to organize against the entrenched powers that have rigged our economy, and to champion an equitable and representative democracy, where “liberty and justice” truly is for all. For too long, politicians from both political parties have attempted to use veterans as unwilling political props, and Common Defense serves as a home for veterans to organize and speak for themselves and support the candidates who truly share our values.