Air Force Denies Early Retirement to Trans Troops

The U.S. Air Force has denied early retirement benefits to transgender service members with 15 to 18 years of service, reversing earlier indications and rescinding approvals for about a dozen personnel who had been told their retirements would proceed. Instead, affected members must either accept a lump-sum separation payment or face involuntary discharge without retirement pay. This decision follows a Supreme Court ruling allowing the Trump administration's ban on transgender military service to proceed. Advocates, affected service members—including Master Sergeant Logan Ireland—and public figures like Martina Navratilova have condemned the move as discriminatory and devastating. The Air Force stated that no exceptions to the retirement policy were ultimately approved despite theoretical allowances. Legal and civil rights groups continue to challenge the policy in court.