U.S. Air Force Airmen board a C-130J from the 41st Airlift Squadron, Little Rock AFB, for exercise Bamboo Eagle 25-3 at NAS Lemoore, California. ( Photo: U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Zachary Rufus)
The U.S. Air Force announced Thursday it will not approve early retirement requests from transgender Service Members who have served between 15 and 18 years. Instead, these personnel will be separated from the military without retirement benefits.
An Air Force spokesperson stated that while Service Members with 15 to 18 years of service were allowed to request an exception under the Temporary Early Retirement Authority, all requests were denied. The spokesperson said about a dozen members had been informed they would be able to retire early, but per the Associated Press, those notifications were later rescinded.
The decision follows a May Supreme Court ruling that allowed DOD to implement a ban on transgender individuals serving in the military. Soon after, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth introduced a policy giving openly serving transgender troops two options: voluntarily separate with a one-time lump-sum payment or face involuntary separation at a later date.
A memo signed by Brian Scarlett, who is serving as the assistant secretary of the Air Force for manpower and reserve affairs, stated that the decision was made “after careful consideration of the individual applications.” While some members with 18 to 20 years of service were approved for early retirement, those with less service time were not included.
According to Pentagon data, as of December 9, 2024, there were 4,240 active-duty, National Guard, and Reserve troops diagnosed with gender dysphoria. However, the diagnosis is not synonymous with being transgender, meaning the total number of transgender personnel may be different.
Under the policy, active-duty troops had until June 6 and National Guard and Reserve members until July 7 to self-identify for a payout. Officials said commanders and medical screenings would be used to identify those who did not come forward.
In January, President Donald Trump issued an executive order reversing a Biden-era policy that allowed transgender individuals to serve openly. Supporters say the change is intended to maintain military readiness, while critics argue that it is discriminatory.
Legal and advocacy groups have criticized the policy. Shannon Leary, an attorney who represents LGBTQ+ clients in employment discrimination cases, said she expects legal challenges, describing the denial of benefits as a departure from the way early retirement is normally handled for members with over 15 years of service. Shannon Minter of the National Center for LGBTQ Rights said rescinding previously approved retirements has had a severe financial impact on those affected.
Internal Air Force materials, as seen by Reuters, advised affected members to focus on remaining benefits, such as the GI Bill and VA programs, and to seek counseling through Military & Family Readiness. Some Service Members have said the separation process, which includes reverting service records to a member’s birth gender, has been distressing.
The policy is expected to face further legal scrutiny.
Author: Rikki Almanza
Rikki is a Web Content Coordinator for the American Legion, Department of California. With a deep-rooted family connection to the military, Rikki is committed to using her skills and knowledge to provide valuable assistance and resources to servicemembers and veterans.
