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

The US Air Force has come under intense scrutiny after a leaked memo revealed that long-serving transgender and non-binary service members will be denied retirement benefits. This decision affects those with between 15 and 18 years of military service, who are now faced with the prospect of being forced out of the military without the usual benefits typically granted to long-serving members.

The situation follows an executive order issued by former US President Donald Trump in January 2021, which initiated the process of removing transgender individuals from the armed forces. According to the memo, authored by Brian Scarlett, the assistant secretary for manpower and reserve affairs, an exception to the Air Force’s early retirement scheme concerning gender dysphoria will not apply to this group of service members.

Instead of receiving the retirement benefits they earned, these individuals will have to choose between a lump-sum separation payment, usually reserved for junior personnel, or face involuntary discharge. This could lead to a dishonorable discharge, which would strip them of further veteran benefits. As stated by an Air Force spokesperson, “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.”

Approximately a dozen service members who were previously informed they could request early retirement in May now find their approvals rescinded. The Air Force described these approvals as “prematurely approved” following the recent memo.

Transgender troops with 18 to 20 years of service remain eligible for early retirement, but typical military retirement occurs after 20 years of service. This has led to widespread criticism, including from Jay Brown, chief of staff of the Human Rights Campaign. He condemned the decision, describing it as “indefensible” and asserting that the administration is unjustly stripping these service members of benefits they have earned through years of honorable service.

“This has nothing to do with military readiness; it’s cruelty for cruelty’s sake,” Brown stated. Active-duty personnel received a memo from Pete Hegseth, the Secretary of Defense, giving them until June 6, 2023, to voluntarily separate or face forced discharge. Reserve and National Guard members were told they had until July 7, 2023.

Legal documents made public in March suggest that the Trump administration has struggled to justify its stance on disqualifying transgender individuals from military service based on claims related to “honesty, humility and integrity.” Government lawyers attempted to argue that transgender troops impose financial pressures on the military due to gender-affirming care, which has reportedly cost the Pentagon only $52 million over the last decade. In contrast, the Pentagon’s budget for 2026 is projected to exceed $961.6 billion.

The developments surrounding the treatment of transgender service members within the US military highlight a contentious issue that continues to draw attention and criticism from various advocacy groups and the broader public.