The U.S. Air Force will deny early retirement to transgender service members with 15 to 18 years of service, separating them without benefits, according to The Associated Press. About a dozen service members had been told they could retire before the decision was reversed.
The policy follows the Trump administration’s transgender troop ban, upheld by the Supreme Court in May, which offers only a lump-sum payout or involuntary separation. Critics, including attorney Shannon Leary, have called the move arbitrary and cruel, warning of potential lawsuits.
Master Sgt. Logan Ireland, a 15-year veteran who served in Afghanistan, said he feels betrayed and devastated. As of December 2024, 4,240 active-duty, Guard and Reserve troops had been diagnosed with gender dysphoria, though officials believe the actual number is higher.
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