The information on this page may change frequently given the nature and rate of the President's executive orders. StatesideLegal will try to stay as up-to-date as possible to provide you the latest resources on each order summarized.
There has been a lot of news recently about the President's executive orders. This page summarizes recent orders that impact military service and the VA and provides further resources for you to review. StatesideLegal also has a Frequently Asked Questions page that answers questions about executive orders in general.
Recent Executive Orders that Impact Military Service and/or the VA:
Restoring America's Fighting Force (Signed January 27, 2025)
Prioritizing Military Excellence and Readiness (Signed January 27, 2025)
Summarized Executive Orders
Implementing the President's “Department of Government Efficiency” Cost Efficiency Initiative (Signed February 26, 2025) - Executive Order 14222
This executive order gives the new Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) more power to reduce government spending. This includes cutting federal agency programs, grants, and travel while selling federal property and firing employees. The VA has already laid off thousands of workers, and more job cuts are expected. These firings could lead to delays in veterans' healthcare, disability claims, and other VA services.
Status: Ongoing with some changes
Lawsuits have been filed against this executive order. On March 13, 2025, a judge ordered that the administration must reinstate thousands of the probationary employees fired by DOGE. The administration is attempting to appeal that decision to the Supreme Court.
Restoring America's Fighting Force (Signed January 27, 2025) - Executive Order 14185
This executive order removes all Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion offices and programs in the Department of Defense and Homeland Security. It also bans any training or policies related to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. Military service academies must close all inclusive clubs, except for religious ones. The order states that the military "should operate free from any preference based on race or sex," and will affect service members by eliminating existing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion offices, job positions, and existing programs.
Status: Ongoing with some limitations
Diversity officers from colleges around the country have challenged this order. They say that it violates free speech and moves money from federal contracts that Congress already approved. A judge has temporarily blocked the administration's power to change or cancel current federal contracts they believe are related to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.
Reinstating Service Members Discharged Under the Military's COVID-19 Vaccination Mandate (Signed January 27, 2025) - Executive Order 14184
This executive order allows service members (active and reserve) who were discharged for refusing to get the COVID-19 vaccine to return to service at their previous rank. They will will also receive full back pay, benefits, and bonuses. The executive order also lets those who left voluntarily due to the vaccine mandate to return to the military without penalty if they submit a written statement explaining why they left. The Department of Defense has 60 days to create a plan to carry this out.
Status: Ongoing
Prioritizing Military Excellence and Readiness (Signed January 27, 2025) - Executive Order 14183
This executive order states that anyone diagnosed with gender dysphoria, a history of gender dysphoria, or those expressing a "false “gender identity” different from an individual’s sex" including using pronouns that "inaccurately reflect an individual’s sex" are unfit for service. Although the order itself does not explain what will happen to transgender service members currently serving, or those individuals who wish to enlist, there have been several DoD guidance memos and a "Frequently Asked Question" document that answer some of the more pressing questions. Specifically, there is:
- a DoD memo to provide "Additional Guidance on Prioritizing Military Excellence and Readiness,"
- a Navy Decision Guidance Memo regarding enlistment and recruiting, and
- a DoD "Frequently Asked Questions" sheet that answers questions on the impact of this executive order.
Status: Ongoing but appeal pending
This order is being challenged by current trans service members and some trans individuals who would like to enlist. In mid-March of 2025, a judge temporarily blocked this order while the case is pending. On May 6. 2025, The U.S. Supreme Court lifted the block while the appeal is ongoing.
This means that the administration and DoD are able to continue the ban on enlisting trans individuals and have the authority to discharge active trans members. Currently, a DoD memo (dated May 8, 2025) states that, "Service members who have a current diagnosis or history of, or exhibit symptoms consistent with, gender dysphoria may elect to separate voluntarily... and may be eligible for voluntary separation pay." The deadline to self-identify for voluntary separation "June 6, 2025, for Active Component Service members and July 7, 2025, for Reserve Component Service members."
Establishing and Implementing the President's "Department of Government Efficiency"(Signed January 20, 2025) - Executive Order 14158
This executive order establishes the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). DOGE was created to complete the President's "18-month DOGE agenda" which includes modernizing Federal technology to make the governmental more efficient and productive. As of March 2025, DOGE has seized authority, fired tens of thousands of federal employees, and eliminated many federal services and grants in the name of efficiency and productivity.
Status: Ongoing
Lawsuits have been filed against this executive order by several groups saying that it violates the way advisory committees are supposed to be created and run. Those rules can be found in the Federal Advisory Committee Act.
