US Air Force Denies Retirement Benefits to Long-Serving Trans Troops

The US Air Force has come under fire for its decision to deny retirement benefits to long-serving transgender troops, according to a leaked memo. Service members with between 15 and 18 years of military experience will reportedly be forced to resign or face discharge without the retirement benefits typically granted to those who have served for a significant duration. This policy shift follows a January executive order from former US President Donald Trump, which initiated the removal of transgender individuals from military service.

The leaked memo, reviewed by Reuters, was authored by Assistant Secretary for Manpower and Reserve Affairs Brian Scarlett. It states that an exception to the Air Force’s early retirement scheme for those experiencing gender dysphoria will not apply to certain transgender personnel. Instead, these service members must choose between a lump-sum separation payment, typically offered to junior troops, or risk being forcibly discharged, potentially leading to a dishonourable discharge that would strip them of further veteran benefits.

Previously, approximately a dozen transgender service members had been informed they could request early retirement, but their approvals have since been rescinded. A spokesperson for the Air Force acknowledged that these approvals were “prematurely approved.” The spokesperson clarified that while service members with 15 to 18 years of honorable service were permitted to seek an exception to the policy, none were granted. Instead, they are eligible for voluntary separation, which provides a payout at twice the rate of involuntary separation pay.

Transgender troops with 18 to 20 years of service remain eligible for early retirement, with standard military retirement typically occurring after 20 years of service.

Response from Advocacy Groups

The decision has been met with widespread condemnation. Jay Brown, Chief of Staff at the Human Rights Campaign, labeled the move as “indefensible.” In a statement, he criticized the Trump administration for “stripping [trans troops] of the retirement benefits they’ve earned after years of honorable service.” He emphasized that this decision does not pertain to military readiness and described it as “cruelty for cruelty’s sake.”

Active-duty personnel were informed in a memo from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth that they had until 6 June 2023 to voluntarily resign or face forced discharge. Members of the reserve and National Guard were given until 7 July 2023 to make a decision regarding their service.

Documents made public in March indicate that the Trump administration has struggled to substantiate claims that transgender personnel undermine military effectiveness based on “honesty, humility, and integrity.” Government lawyers have suggested that the financial impact of gender-affirming care burdens the military, despite the Pentagon’s costs for such care totaling just $52 million over the past decade. This figure is a small fraction of the Pentagon’s projected budget of at least $961.6 billion for 2026.

The decision by the US Air Force raises significant concerns regarding the treatment of transgender individuals within the military and the broader implications for their rights and benefits.