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Redefining The Ranks: Trump Targets DEI, Transgender Troops, And COVID Dismissals

President Donald Trump signed a suite of military-focused executive orders on Monday, rolling back key policies tied to diversity, COVID-era dismissals, and transgender service members. These orders include reinstating troops discharged for refusing COVID-19 vaccines and eliminating Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs across the armed forces.

Speaking from Air Force One en route to Washington, Trump’s directives signal a return to earlier policies, including a controversial stance on transgender personnel. One order declares that military standards must align with individuals’ biological sex, barring “invented” pronouns while leaving the status of current transgender service members uncertain. Advocacy groups, including the ACLU, have called the measures discriminatory and possibly illegal.

This policy shift builds on Trump’s 2017 attempt to ban transgender troops, a move later overturned by President Biden in 2021. While Trump cited concerns about costs and unit cohesion, critics argue these decisions sideline capable personnel in a military of over 1.3 million active-duty members.

Missile Defence And Historical Revisions

In addition to personnel policies, Trump signed an order aiming to create a U.S. version of Israel’s Iron Dome defense system. While ambitious, such a program would require years of development. Meanwhile, the Air Force announced the return of its Tuskegee Airmen training video, adjusted to align with Trump’s DEI rollback.

With sweeping changes underway, Trump’s actions reflect his broader vision for a streamlined, ideologically aligned military—though they’re already drawing sharp criticism from advocacy groups and political opponents.

Forbes Middle East Unveils 100 Most Powerful Businesswomen Of 2025

Forbes Middle East has unveiled its much-anticipated 2025 ranking of the region’s top businesswomen, spotlighting influential leaders reshaping industries and driving meaningful transformation. The list was based on business size, individual accomplishments, leadership impact, and corporate social responsibility initiatives.

Top Spot For Hana Al Rostamani

For the third consecutive year, Hana Al Rostamani, Group CEO of First Abu Dhabi Bank (UAE’s largest bank by assets), claims the top position. In addition to retaining her position in the Forbes Middle East ranking, she was also featured on Forbes’ 2024 list of the World’s Most Powerful Women, securing the 60th position globally. Under her leadership, the bank achieved an impressive $3.5 billion in net profits and $334.8 billion in assets in the first nine months of 2024.

Rising Stars In The Top 10

Shaikha Khaled Al Bahar of NBK Group and Shaista Asif, cofounder and Group CEO of PureHealth Holding, take the second and third spots respectively, completing the top three.

The top 10 remains largely unchanged from last year, with Tayba Al Hashemi of ADNOC Offshore, Alisha Moopen of Aster DM Healthcare GCC, and Suzanne Al Anani of Dubai Aviation Engineering Projects (DAEP) making their debut in the top 10. In total, 27 new leaders have joined the list this year.

A Diverse And Powerful Group Of Women

This year’s list features 100 women from 32 sectors and 29 nationalities, underlining the diversity of talent driving the region’s progress. The banking and financial services sector leads with 25 entries, followed by healthcare and technology with nine each, and venture capital with five. Remarkably, 40% of the top 10 women are from the banking and financial services sector. Notably, Shaista Asif (PureHealth Holding) and Alisha Moopen (Aster DM Healthcare GCC) are the only non-Arab women in the top 10.

UAE Leads With 46 Leaders

The UAE continues to dominate, with 46 of the women on the list hailing from the country, solidifying its status as a global business hub. Egypt follows with 18 influential women, and Saudi Arabia claims nine entries. Egyptians lead in representation, followed by Emiratis and Lebanese women.

Empowering Women Through Initiatives

Several of the leaders have focused on upskilling and creating opportunities for women. Susana Rodriguez Puerta launched the ‘sAIdaty’ initiative in collaboration with the Dubai Business Women Council, aimed at providing 500 female council members in the UAE with AI skills. Similarly, Lamia Tazi of SOTHEMA collaborated with the Foundation for Research, Development, and Innovation in Science and Engineering to provide scholarships to PhD students from low-income backgrounds.

Click here for the full list.

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