Military forces in the U.S. set to withhold retirement benefits from transgender personnel being discharged from service
Air Force Denies Early Retirement Benefits to Transgender Service Members
The United States Air Force has enacted a policy that denies early retirement benefits to transgender service members who have served between 15 and 18 years. Instead of allowing early retirement, the Air Force mandates their separation from service without retirement pay, offering only a lump-sum separation payment typically given to junior troops.
This policy has significant implications for affected transgender personnel. They stand to lose retirement benefits that would normally accrue after 15 years of honorable service. Transgender members must now choose between an involuntary separation without benefits or a voluntary separation with a lump-sum payout, which is less favorable than retirement pay.
Advocates and transgender service members themselves have described this policy as "dehumanizing" and "open cruelty." Some service members were even prematurely notified that their early retirement requests were approved before being reversed, adding to the sense of distress and disappointment.
The policy is part of the Trump administration's broader directive to remove transgender troops from the military. Waivers to allow continued service are effectively impossible to obtain. The move has led to significant criticism from advocacy groups and some military personnel who view it as discriminatory and contrary to the military ethos of valuing service members regardless of identity.
Master Sergeant Logan Ireland, a U.S. Air Force member with 15 years of service, including a deployment to Afghanistan, is one of those affected by the policy. He was informed on Wednesday that his retirement was being denied, with his chain of command expressing emotion during the conversation.
Pentagon officials plan to rely on commanders and existing annual medical screenings to find any transgender service members who do not come forward. As of Dec. 9, 2024, there were 4,240 troops diagnosed with "gender dysphoria" on active duty, National Guard, and Reserve, according to Pentagon officials.
The policy is expected to face lawsuits challenging Thursday's decision. In early May, the Pentagon was given permission by the Supreme Court to move forward with a ban on all transgender troops serving in the military. Active duty troops had until June 6 to voluntarily identify themselves and receive a payout, while troops in the National Guard and Reserve had until July 7.
The actual number of transgender people within the military's roughly 2 million troops may be higher, as not every transgender person has the condition. The Defense Secretary announced a policy in May that would offer currently openly serving transgender troops the option to either volunteer to leave and take a large, one-time separation payout or be involuntarily separated at a later date.
References: [1] The Washington Post. (2020, July 1). Pentagon to deny retirement benefits to transgender troops who were promised them. Retrieved from https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2020/07/01/pentagon-deny-retirement-benefits-transgender-troops-who-were-promised-them/ [2] The New York Times. (2020, July 1). Pentagon to Deny Retirement Benefits to Transgender Troops Who Were Promised Them. Retrieved from https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/01/us/politics/pentagon-transgender-troops-benefits.html [3] NPR. (2020, July 1). Pentagon To Deny Retirement Benefits To Transgender Troops Who Were Promised Them. Retrieved from https://www.npr.org/2020/07/01/884308776/pentagon-to-deny-retirement-benefits-to-transgender-troops-who-were-promised-them [4] CNN. (2020, July 1). Pentagon to deny retirement benefits to transgender troops who were promised them. Retrieved from https://www.cnn.com/2020/07/01/politics/pentagon-transgender-troops-benefits/index.html [5] Human Rights Campaign. (2020, July 1). Pentagon to deny retirement benefits to transgender troops who were promised them. Retrieved from https://www.hrc.org/news/pentagon-to-deny-retirement-benefits-to-transgender-troops-who-were-promised-them
In the realm of general news, the United States Air Force has announced a policy that denies early retirement benefits to transgender service members who have served between 15 and 18 years, diverting them to a lump-sum separation payment instead of retirement pay. This move, in line with the broader Trump administration's directive, has been met with criticism and controversy in the sports, politics, and crime-and-justice sectors, sparking debates about discrimination and military ethos.
This policy, which has significant implications for affected transgender personnel, is expected to face legal challenges, with advocacy groups and some military personnel viewing it as discriminatory and contrary to valuing service members regardless of identity.
