US Air Force denies early retirement for group of transgender service members
FILE PHOTO: A U.S. soldier is seen in front of C-130 transport planes at Yokota U.S. Air Force Base in Fussa, on the outskirts of Tokyo, Japan May 21, 2020. REUTERS/Issei Kato/File Photo
The U.S. Air Force is denying early retirement to all transgender service members with between 15 and 18 years of military service, opting instead to force them out with no retirement benefits, according to a memo seen by Reuters.
These longer-serving transgender service members will have the same choice as more junior ones: quit or be forced out, with corresponding lump-sum payments as they walk out the door, the August 4 memo says.
The move is the latest escalation by President Donald Trump's administration as it seeks to bar transgender individuals from joining the U.S. military and remove all who are currently serving. The Pentagon says transgender individuals are medically unfit, something civil rights activists say is untrue and constitutes illegal discrimination.
"After careful consideration of the individual applications, I am disapproving all Temporary Early Retirement Authority (TERA) exception to policy requests in Tabs 1 and 2 for members with 15-18 years of service," the memo said.
It was signed by Brian Scarlett, who is performing the duties of the assistant secretary of the Air Force for manpower and reserve affairs. The memo has not been previously reported.
Multiple service members had already been approved for early retirement, but those approvals were rescinded, advocates say. An Air Force spokesperson said a subset of applications were "prematurely approved."
"It's devastating," said Shannon Minter of the National Center for LGBTQ Rights. "This is just betrayal of a direct commitment made to these service members."
Top stories
Swipe. Select. Stay informed.
Singapore Liquor licences for F&B, nightlife venues extended to 4am in Boat Quay, Clarke Quay
Singapore Chikungunya cases in Singapore double; authorities monitoring situation closely
Singapore Student found with vape taken to hospital after behaving aggressively in school; HSA investigating
Asia Cambodia, Thailand agree on Asean observers monitoring truce, but fundamental differences remain
Asia Trump ratchets up tariff pressure on India, sparking despair among exporters and growth fears
Singapore CDC and SG60 vouchers listed on e-commerce platforms will be taken down: CDCs
Asia Australia's purchase of Japanese frigates signals a new era for Indo-Pacific security
Singapore Some ageing condos in Singapore struggle with failing infrastructure, inadequate sinking funds
The Air Force's decision follows a policy detailed in a May 23 memo, which stated that airmen with 15-18 years of service could request early retirement.
When asked by Reuters about the decision, the Air Force noted that it approved early retirement for more senior members who self-identified as transgender and had 18-20 years of service. Regular retirement happens after 20 years.
In an internal question-and-answer fact sheet seen by Reuters, the Air Force provided potential answers to the question: "How do I tell family we're not getting retirement benefits?"
The answers were:
* "Focus on the benefits you do retain (GI Bill, VA benefits, experience)
* "Emphasize this doesn't reflect on your service or character."
* "Military & Family Readiness can provide counseling resources." REUTERS
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Straits Times
26 minutes ago
- Straits Times
Singapore conducts second airdrop ops to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox Loading of Singapore's humanitarian aid for Gaza onto the RSAF's C-130. SINGAPORE - Singapore conducted its second airdrop operations to deliver medical and food supplies to Gaza on Aug 12, said the Ministry of Defence (Mindef). A Republic of Singapore Air Force C-130 transport aircraft left for Jordan from Paya Lebar Air Base in the morning with the humanitarian aid, as part of operations conducted alongside other foreign air forces at the invitation of the Jordanian government. A total of 58 defence and military personnel were deployed in support of these operations, the Mindef press release added. The medical supplies being delivered are from the Ministry of Health, while the food supplies from non-governmental organisations such as Humanity Matters, Caritas Humanitarian Aid and Relief Initiatives Singapore, Mercy Relief and the Rahmatan Lil Alamin Foundation. The effort was coordinated through the Changi Regional Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief Coordination Centre. RSAF conducted its first airdrop to deliver emergency supplies to Gaza on March 20, 2024. The Aug 12 airdrop is the ninth tranche of humanitarian assistance for Gaza from Singapore since the start of the Israel-Hamas conflict in October 2023, with the value of the support totalling over $22 million. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Business Singapore raises 2025 economic growth forecast but warns of uncertainty from US tariffs Singapore Circle Line to end early most Fridays and Saturdays, start late most weekends from Sept 5 to Dec 28 Business StarHub buys rest of MyRepublic's broadband business in $105m deal; comes after Simba buys M1 Singapore Telco price undercutting expected to subside after sale of M1 to Simba: Analysts World After tariff truce extended, a Trump-Xi summit in China? Asia Death of student in Sabah raises hurdle for Malaysian PM Anwar as he faces tough state polls soon Opinion Sumiko at 61: Hearing loss is linked to dementia risk. Here's what you risk by ignoring it Opinion For Singapore, the AI revolution is coming just in time At Paya Lebar Air Base on Aug 12 to send off the aircraft, Senior Minister of State for Defence Zaqy Mohamad said the SAF stands ready to support humanitarian assistance into Gaza. 'This is one way to show how the whole community rallies together to show compassion and shows how it brings together all the resources and Singaporeans,' he added. Joining him at the send-off were Minister of State for Defence Desmond Choo; Chargé d'Affaires at the Embassy of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan to Singapore Qais Biltaji; Singapore's Non-Resident Ambassador to the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan Shamsher Zaman; and Singapore's Representative to the Palestinian Authority Hawazi Daipi. Acting Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs Faishal Ibrahim (second from right), Senior Minister of State for Defence Zaqy Mohamad (third from right) and Minister of State for Defence Desmond Choo (fourth from right) engaging with NGO representatives. PHOTO: MINDEF Acting Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs Faishal Ibrahim was also present to meet with representatives from the participating non-governmental organisations. He thanked the Muslim community and all Singaporeans for their generosity, compassion, and prayers. 'Every act of giving is a light in the darkness for someone in need. Let us continue to keep Gaza in our prayers, support humanitarian initiatives, and work towards a future of peace, safety, and dignity for all,' he said.
Straits Times
26 minutes ago
- Straits Times
South Korea court to rule on bid to arrest former first lady
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox South Korea's former first lady Kim Keon Hee, wife of impeached former president Yoon Suk Yeol, arrives at a court to attend a hearing to review her arrest warrant requested by special prosecutors at the Seoul Central District Court, in Seoul, South Korea August 12, 2025. JUNG YEON-JE/Pool via REUTERS SEOUL - South Korea's former first lady, Kim Keon Hee, appeared on Tuesday in court, where a judge will decide whether to approve a special prosecutor's request for a warrant to arrest her on accusations of graft. If detained, she would be South Korea's only former first lady to be arrested, joining her husband, ex-President Yoon Suk Yeol, in jail as he faces trial, following his ouster in April, over a botched bid to impose martial law in December. Kim, wearing a black suit, bowed as she arrived, but did not answer reporters' questions or make a statement. The charges against her, punishable by years in prison, range from stock fraud to bribery and illegal influence peddling that have implicated business owners, religious figures and a political power broker. She has been accused of breaking the law over an incident in which she wore a luxury Van Cleef pendant reportedly worth more than 60 million won ($43,000) while attending a NATO summit with her husband in 2022. The item was not listed in the couple's financial disclosure as required by law, according to the charge. Kim is also accused of receiving two Chanel bags together valued at 20 million won and a diamond necklace from a religious group as a bribe in return for influence favourable to its business interests. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Business Singapore raises 2025 economic growth forecast but warns of uncertainty from US tariffs Singapore Circle Line to end early most Fridays and Saturdays, start late most weekends from Sept 5 to Dec 28 Business StarHub buys rest of MyRepublic's broadband business in $105m deal; comes after Simba buys M1 Singapore Telco price undercutting expected to subside after sale of M1 to Simba: Analysts World After tariff truce extended, a Trump-Xi summit in China? Asia Death of student in Sabah raises hurdle for Malaysian PM Anwar as he faces tough state polls soon Opinion Sumiko at 61: Hearing loss is linked to dementia risk. Here's what you risk by ignoring it Opinion For Singapore, the AI revolution is coming just in time Kim's lawyers have denied the accusations against her and dismissed as groundless speculation news reports about some of the gifts she allegedly received. The court is expected to announce its decision late on Tuesday or overnight, media said, based on the timing of the decision to arrest Yoon. Yoon is on trial on charges of insurrection, which could result in life imprisonment or even the death penalty. The former president, who also faces charges of abuse of power among others, has denied wrongdoing and refused to attend trial hearings or be questioned by prosecutors. REUTERS
Straits Times
26 minutes ago
- Straits Times
Trump's trade war with China in 2025
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox BEIJING - U.S. President Donald Trump has targeted top economic rival China with a cascade of tariff orders on billions of dollars of imported goods aimed at narrowing a wide trade deficit, bringing back lost manufacturing and crippling the fentanyl trade. The timeline below shows the development of the U.S.-China trade war this year: January 21 - A day after taking office, Trump threatens 10% punitive duty on Chinese imports, citing fentanyl flowing from China. February 1 - Trump imposes 10% on goods from China along with 25% on Mexico and Canada, demanding they curb the flow of fentanyl and illegal immigrants into the U.S. February 4 - China responds with a wide range of measures targeting U.S. businesses including Google, farm equipment makers and the owner of fashion brand Calvin Klein. Beijing also slaps levies of 15% on imports of U.S. coal and LNG and 10% for crude oil and some autos, beginning February 10. It also restricted exports of five metals used in defence, clean energy and other industries. March 3 - The U.S. doubles fentanyl-related tariffs on all Chinese imports, increasing levies to 20%, effective March 4. March 4 - China hits back with 10-15% retaliatory levies on U.S. agriculture exports, affecting about $21 billion in U.S. exports. Beijing also imposed export and investment curbs on 25 U.S. firms, on grounds of national security and banned imports of genetic sequencers from U.S. medical equipment maker Illumina. April 2 - Trump escalates global trade friction with sweeping "liberation day" tariffs, announcing a baseline 10% across all imports and significantly higher duties on some countries. Trump levies 34% on all Chinese goods, to take effect on April 9. The Trump administration also decides to end duty-free access for low-value shipments from China and Hong Kong, known as "de minimis" exemptions, from May 2. April 4 - China announces retaliatory tariffs of 34% on all U.S. imports from April 10 and export curbs on some rare earths. It imposed restrictions on about 30 U.S. organisations, mostly in defence-related industries. Beijing also suspends sorghum, poultry and bone meal shipments from some U.S. firms. April 8 - The U.S. raises tariff on all Chinese imports to 84% from 34%. April 9 - China raises its levies on U.S. imports to 84% too, and added 12 U.S. companies to a control list that prohibits exports of dual-use items and another six to its "unreliable entities" list, which allows Beijing to take punitive actions against foreign entities. The U.S. further hikes tariffs on Chinese imports to 125% from 84%. China later on the day issued risk warnings to its citizens against travelling to the U.S. April 10 - China announces it would immediately restrict imports of Hollywood films. April 11 - China also raises levies on imports of U.S. goods to 125%, dismissing the Trump tariff strategy as "a joke" and indicated it will ignore any further U.S. "numbers game with tariffs". April 15 - U.S. chipmaker Nvidia discloses that U.S. officials had informed it that its H20 chip would require an export license for sales to China. May 10-12 - Beijing and Washington hold high-stakes trade talks over the weekend in Geneva. Both sides released a joint statement agreeing to a 90-day pause on their steep tariffs. The temporary truce meant U.S. tariffs on China will fall to 30% from 145%, while China tariffs on the U.S. drop to 10% from 125%. China also committed to removing non-tariff countermeasures imposed against the United States since April 2. May 28-29 - U.S. says will start "aggressively" revoking visas of Chinese students. It also orders a broad swathe of companies to stop shipping goods covering semiconductors, design software and aviation equipment to China. May 31 - Trump says China violated the agreement reached in Geneva to mutually roll back tariffs and ease Chinese curbs on critical minerals exports. China rejects the accusation, saying U.S. had introduced multiple "discriminatory restrictive" measures against China. June 5 - Chinese President Xi Jinping and Trump hold an hour-long phone call. June 9-10 - U.S. and China hold a new round of trade talks in London and reach a framework agreement. June 11-12 - Some Chinese rare earths magnet producers begin to receive export licences. Trump says trade truce is back on track. June 27 - Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent says U.S. and China have resolved issues around rare earth minerals and magnets shipments to U.S. July 6 - Trump threatens an additional 10% tariff on countries he said were aligning themselves with the "Anti-American policies" of BRICS, which includes China. July 15 - U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick says Nvidia plans to resume sales of its advanced AI H20 chips to China is part of U.S. negotiations on rare earths, reversing a U.S. export ban in April. July 28-29 - U.S. and Chinese officials agree to seek an extension of their 90-day tariff truce after two days of talks in Stockholm. Both sides described the talks as constructive, but no major breakthroughs were announced. August 1 - Bessent says believed that Washington has the makings of a deal with China and that he is "optimistic" about the path forward. August 8 - U.S. starts issuing licenses to Nvidia to export its H20 chips to China. August 10 - Trump urges China to quadruple its soybean purchases from the U.S. as the expiration of the trade truce looms on August 12. August 11 - U.S. and China extend their tariff truce for another 90 days. REUTERS
