Executive Order 14183

Prioritizing Military Excellence and Readiness

Signed January 27, 2025, printed at 90 FR 8757. 5 sections of substance, 1,115 words.

In plain English

This order changes military rules. It says the force must focus on being ready to fight. Some fitness and conduct rules go back.

Read it at the Federal Register →

Sec. 1. Purpose

The United States military has a clear mission: to protect the American people and our homeland as the world's most lethal and effective fighting force. Success in this existential mission requires a singular focus on developing the requisite warrior ethos, and the pursuit of military excellence cannot be diluted to accommodate political agendas or other ideologies harmful to unit cohesion. Recently, however, the Armed Forces have been afflicted with radical gender ideology to appease activists unconcerned with the requirements of military service like physical and mental health, selflessness, and unit cohesion. Longstanding Department of Defense (DoD) policy (DoD Instruction (DoDI) 6130.03) provides that it is the policy of the DoD to ensure that service members are ``[f]ree of medical conditions or physical defects that may reasonably be expected to require excessive time lost from

In plain English

This sets out the case the order makes. It says the armed forces exist to fight and win. It says that needs a single focus. It says gender policy has cut across that. It cites a standing rule on medical fitness. That rule bars conditions needing much time off duty.

Sec. 2. Policy

It is the policy of the United States Government to establish high standards for troop readiness, lethality, cohesion, honesty, humility, uniformity, and integrity. This policy is inconsistent with the medical, surgical, and mental health constraints on individuals with gender dysphoria. This policy is also inconsistent with shifting pronoun usage or use of pronouns that inaccurately reflect an individual's sex.

In plain English

This states the policy. High standards are set for the troops. Readiness is one. Fighting power is another. So is unit cohesion. Honesty and humility are named. So are uniformity and integrity. It says the medical needs of people with gender dysphoria clash with those standards. It says shifting pronoun use does too.

Sec. 3. Definitions

The definitions in the Executive Order of January 20, 2025 (Defending Women from Gender Ideology Extremism and Restoring Biological Truth to the Federal Government) shall apply to this order.

In plain English

This points to another order for its terms. That order defines sex and gender.

Sec. 4. Implementation

(a) Within 60 days of the date of this order, the Secretary of Defense (Secretary) shall update DoDI 6130.03 Volume 1 (Medical Standards for Military Service: Appointment, Enlistment, or Induction [[Page 8758]] (May 6, 2018), Incorporating Change 5 of May 28, 2024) and DoDI 6130.03 Volume 2 (Medical Standards for Military Service: Retention (September 4, 2020), Incorporating Change 1 of June 6, 2022) to reflect the purpose and policy of this Order. (b) The Secretary shall promptly issue directives for DoD to end invented and identification-based pronoun usage to best achieve the policy outlined in section 2 of this order. (c) Within 30 days of the date of this order, the Secretary shall: (i) identify all additional steps and issue guidance necessary to fully implement this order; and (ii) submit to the President through the Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs a

In plain English

This tells Defense to act. Within 60 days it must update two medical standards. Those cover joining and staying in service. It must also end the use of chosen pronouns. Within 30 days it must set out further steps. A report then goes to the President.

Sec. 5.

Implementing the Revocation of Executive Order 14004. (a) Pursuant to the Executive Order of January 20, 2025 (Initial Rescissions of Harmful Executive Orders and Actions), Executive Order 14004 of January 25, 2021 (Enabling All Qualified Americans To Serve Their Country in Uniform), has been revoked. Accordingly, all policies, directives, and guidance issued pursuant to Executive Order 14004 shall be rescinded to the extent inconsistent with the provisions of this order. (b) The Secretary and, with respect to the Coast Guard, the Secretary of Homeland Security, shall take all necessary steps to implement the revocations described in subsection (a) of this section and ensure that all military departments and services fully comply with the provisions of this order.

In plain English

This carries out the repeal of a 2021 order. That order had let more people serve. Guidance built on it is to be dropped. That holds where it clashes with this order. Defense must carry that out. Homeland Security does the same for the Coast Guard.

Sec. 6. Severability

Every order carries this. It is not what the order does.

If any provision of this order, or the application of any provision to any person or circumstance, is held to be invalid, the remainder of this order and the application of its provisions to any other persons or circumstances shall not be affected thereby.

In plain English

This is the standard severability clause. If a court strikes down part of the order, the rest still stands.

Sec. 7. General Provisions

Every order carries this. It is not what the order does.

(a) Nothing in this order shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect: (i) the authority granted by law to an executive department or agency, or the head thereof; or (ii) the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals. (b) This order shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations. [[Page 8759]] (c) This order is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person. <GRAPHIC(S) NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT> (Presidential Sig.) THE WHITE HOUSE, January 27, 2025. [FR Doc. 2025-02178 Filed 1-31-25; 8:45 am] Billing code 3395-F4-P </pre></body>

In plain English

This is the closing clause that nearly every order carries. It says the order does not change what the law already allows. It also says no one can sue to enforce it.

How this order is quoted

Each section is quoted as the order prints it, under its own number and heading. Executive orders are United States government works and are not under copyright. Long sections are cut at a sentence and the whole order is a click away.