Tracking every rollback, reversal, and overreach — and the path back to the America we know.
A federal court ordered the Trump administration to rehire 19 CIA and National Intelligence Director's Office officers who were fired for their roles in diversity initiatives. The ruling represents a legal setback to the administration's effort to eliminate diversity, equity, and inclusion programs across the federal government. The decision protects federal employees engaged in lawful diversity work from political retaliation.
On March 23, 2018, President Trump signed a memorandum directing the Secretary of Defense to develop a policy prohibiting transgender individuals from serving in the U.S. military. The directive reversed the Obama administration's 2016 policy that permitted transgender service members to serve openly. The memorandum required the military to return to a policy denying service to transgender individuals, effective implementation began in April 2019.
On August 25, 2017, President Trump signed a memorandum directing the Secretary of Defense to prohibit transgender individuals from serving in the military. The memorandum halted the Obama administration's policy allowing transgender service members to serve openly and directed the Department of Defense to reinstate the ban on transgender military service. Approximately 8,600 to 15,000 transgender service members were affected.