Trump to order end to DEI in military, reinstate troops who refused COVID vaccines, Hegseth says

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, right, pats Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Charles Q. Brown Jr., on his shoulder as he answers questions from reporters after arriving at the Pentagon, Monday, Jan. 27, 2025 in Washington. (AP Photo/Kevin Wolf)

WASHINGTON — U.S. President Donald Trump will soon sign executive orders removing diversity, equity and inclusion from the military and reinstating thousands of troops who were kicked out for refusing COVID vaccines during the pandemic, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said on Monday.

Hegseth, who narrowly secured enough votes to become the next defense secretary, reverted to the names of confederate generals who were once used for two key bases during his first remarks to reporters as he entered the Pentagon.

Hegseth has promised to bring major changes to the Pentagon and he has made eliminating DEI from the military a top priority.

“There are more executive orders coming,” Hegseth told reporters, as he arrived at the Pentagon for his first full day of work.

The Air Force said on Sunday that it will resume instruction of trainees using a video about the first Black airmen in the U.S. military, known as the Tuskegee Airmen, which has passed review to ensure compliance with Trump’s ban on diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives.

Hegseth was warmly greeted on the steps of the Pentagon by the top U.S. military officer, Air Force General C.Q. Brown, whom Hegseth criticized in his latest book. Asked if he might fire Brown, Hegseth joked that he was standing right next to him.

“I’m standing with him right now. I look forward to working with him,” as he patted Brown on the back.

Reuters has previously reported about the possibility of mass firing among top brass, something Hegseth repeatedly refused to rule out during his confirmation process.

Hegseth’s nomination was divisive, as the military’s top job has historically gone to candidates with deep experience running large organizations and enjoy broad bipartisan support.

Internal focus

Hegseth referred to Fort Moore and Fort Liberty by their previous names, Fort Benning and Fort Bragg, while speaking with reporters.

They had been changed under former President Joe Biden as a part of an effort to rechristen bases named for Confederate officers.

“I’m thinking about the guys and gals in Guam, Germany, Fort Benning and Fort Bragg,” he said.

Much of Hegseth’s focus at the Pentagon could be internal to the military, on everything from bringing back troops discharged for refusing COVID vaccines to once again banning transgender individuals from serving in the military.

“Our job is lethality and readiness and warfighting and we are going to hold people accountable,” Hegseth said.

During his first term, Trump announced that he would ban transgender troops from serving in the military. He didn’t fully follow through with that ban - his administration froze their recruitment while allowing serving personnel to remain.

Biden overturned the decision when he took office in 2021.

(Reporting by Idees Ali and Phil Stewart; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama and Mark Porter)