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American Military News
4 days ago
- Health
- American Military News
Air Force denies ‘transgender' troops early retirement benefits
Transgender military members who have served between 15 and 18 years are being denied early retirement by the U.S. Air Force following the implementation of the Trump administration's 'transgender' military ban. An August 4 memorandum obtained by Reuters explains that transgender Air Force members will be denied early retirement and will not receive retirement benefits. The outlet noted that service members with between 15 and 18 years of service will instead be given the same option of voluntarily leaving the military as other transgender service members In the memorandum, Brian Scarlett, the U.S. Air Force's acting assistant secretary for manpower and reserve affairs, stated, '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.' According to Reuters, while multiple transgender Air Force members had already been approved to receive early retirement benefits, the Air Force has reportedly rescinded the early retirement approvals for transgender troops. 'Although service members with 15-18 years of honorable service were permitted to apply for an exception to policy, none of the exceptions to policy were approved,' an Air Force spokesperson told The Guardian. READ MORE: Video: Pentagon removing transgender troops from US military The Air Force told ABC News, 'Approximately a dozen service members between 15 and 18 years of service were prematurely notified that their TERA applications under the gender dysphoria provision had been approved, but higher level review was required under the DoD gender dysphoria policy for those members.' ABC News reported that the memorandum indicates that transgender service members who voluntarily choose to leave the Air Force will receive twice the rate of pay compared to transgender service members who are involuntarily forced to leave the Air Force. Additionally, ABC News reported that the memorandum notes that transgender troops are 'entitled to an honorable discharge characterization, separation benefits and transition assistance.' The recent Air Force memorandum comes after the Trump administration announced earlier this year that service members with 'gender dysphoria' would no longer be allowed to serve in the U.S. military. In a May memorandum, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said, 'As the President of the United States clearly stated in Executive Order 14183, 'Prioritizing Military Excellence and Readiness,' January 27, 2025, expressing a false 'gender identity' divergent from an individual's sex cannot satisfy the rigorous standards necessary for Military Service.' 'Service by individuals with a current diagnosis or history of, or exhibiting symptoms consistent with, gender dysphoria is not in the best interest of the Military Services and is not clearly consistent with the interests of national security,' Hegseth added.
Yahoo
03-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
BREAKING: Trump administration says trans service members have until March 26 to quit Air Force
The Trump administration has escalated its efforts to purge transgender service members from the military, urging them to voluntarily separate by March 26—or face an uncertain future. Keep up with the latest in + news and politics. The directive, outlined in a March 1 memorandum from the Department of the Air Force, was filed Sunday in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia as part of Talbott v. Trump, a legal challenge brought by GLAD Law and the National Center for Lesbian Rights. The memo, signed by Acting Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Manpower and Reserve Affairs Gwendolyn R. DeFilippi, states that individuals with gender dysphoria are 'incompatible with the high mental and physical standards necessary for military service.' Related: BREAKING: Trump administration admits to judge it doesn't know how many troops are trans—or why it's banning them Transgender service members 'are encouraged to elect to separate voluntarily no later than 26 March 2025,' the memo states. 'Service members eligible for voluntary separation pay will be paid at a rate that is twice the amount for which the service member would have been eligible under involuntary separation pay.' The memo applies explicitly to Air Force and Space Force members, though other branches are expected to follow suit. The document also confirms that previous waivers allowing them to use facilities and grooming standards consistent with their gender identity have been revoked effective immediately. Transgender personnel must now adhere to so-called 'biological sex' standards for uniforms, grooming, fitness requirements, and access to showers, bathrooms, and lodging, it notes. This ultimatum comes just one day after the administration admitted in court that the Department of Defense does not track service members by gender identity and has no clear idea how many transgender people actually serve. Despite this, it has moved aggressively to implement President Donald Trump's January 27 executive order, 'Prioritizing Military Excellence and Readiness,' which charged Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth with coming up with policies to eliminate transgender people from military service under the guise of 'readiness.' Among other restrictions, the March 1 memo also halts access to gender-affirming medical care, though it permits ongoing hormone therapy 'to prevent further complications' while service members await separation. Those who do not leave voluntarily face an uncertain administrative process with no guarantee of retention or protection from involuntary discharge. The administration's own data undermines the rationale for this ban. According to the government's previous court filing, a Congressional Research Service report indicates that between January 2016 and May 2021, only 1,892 active-duty troops received gender-affirming care—a fraction of the 1.3 million service members. Additionally, the Pentagon has admitted in court that it does not have reliable estimates on how many transgender people are serving. The filings come as part of a mandatory disclosure order from U.S. District Judge Ana Reyes, who, on February 5, ordered the administration to provide all policies and guidance related to Trump's anti-trans executive orders. The March 1 memo is the latest in a series of documents that outline the administration's rapid and aggressive implementation of its ban on transgender service members. SPARTA Pride—which represents transgender troops—emphasized that transgender people serve in critical roles across the military and that banning them will only weaken the U.S. Armed Forces. On March 12, Reyes will hear arguments from GLAD Law and NCLR seeking an emergency injunction to block the policy, which, NCLR legal director Shanon Minter told The Advocate in a statement, would 'ensure that transgender troops who meet every qualification to serve can continue their commitment to serving our country.'
