The U.S. Air Force announced Thursday that transgender service members with between 15 and 18 years of service will not be granted early retirement and will instead be separated without retirement benefits.
The decision forces those affected to choose between accepting a lump-sum separation payment typically offered to junior personnel or leaving the service without retirement pay. Reuters first reported the move.
An Air Force spokesperson said that while members within that service range could apply for an exception to policy, none were approved. About a dozen service members had initially been told they could retire early before that notification was rescinded.
Officials noted that early retirement for personnel with 15 to 18 years of service is rare, but in this case, all affected individuals are being removed under the Trump administration’s policies on transgender service members.
President Trump signed an executive order shortly after taking office directing the Pentagon to create new guidelines. In February, the Defense Department stated that all transgender members would be separated unless granted a waiver on a case-by-case basis.
