US Air Force to deny retirement pay to transgender service members

An Air Force spokesperson told The Associated Press that “although service members with 15 to 18 years of honorable service were permitted to apply for an exception to policy, none of the exceptions to policy were approved.” About a dozen service members had been “prematurely notified” that they would be able to retire before that decision was reversed, according to the spokesperson who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss internal Air Force policy.

A memo issued Monday announcing the new policy, which was reviewed by the AP, said that the choice to deny retirement benefits was made “after careful consideration of the individual applications.”

All transgender members of the Air Force are being separated from the service under the Trump administration’s policies.

The move comes after the Pentagon was given permission in early May by the Supreme Court to move forward with a ban on all transgender troops serving in the military. Days later, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced a policy 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 later date.

A Pentagon official told reporters in May that they viewed the policy as treating “anyone impacted by it with dignity and respect.”

However, in late July, transgender troops told Military.com that they were finding the entire separation process, which has included reverting their service records back to their birth gender, “dehumanizing” or “open cruelty.”

Shannon Leary, a lawyer who represents LGBTQ+ people in employment discrimination cases, says she expects lawsuits to challenge Thursday’s decision. “It seems quite arbitrary on its face and cruel,” she said. “These military members have dedicated their lives to serving our country.”

Normally, Leary said, when early retirement is offered in the military, it’s available to all members who have served over 15 years. She said she expects other service branches to follow the Air Force’s path.

Logan Ireland, a master sergeant in the U.S. Air Force who has 15 years of service, including a deployment to Afghanistan, is one of the airmen impacted by the policy. “I feel betrayed and devastated by the news,” he said.

Ireland said he was told that his retirement was being denied on Wednesday when his chain of command, “with tears in their eyes,” told him the news.

Officials have said that as of Dec. 9, 2024, there were 4,240 troops diagnosed with “gender dysphoria” on active duty, National Guard and Reserve. Pentagon officials have decided to use the condition and its diagnosis as the main way to identify troops who are trans.

However, the two are not an exact match — not every transgender person has the condition. As a result, there is an understanding that the actual number of transgender people within the military’s roughly 2 million troops may be higher.

Under the latest policy, 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. Pentagon officials previously told reporters that they plan to lean on commanders and existing annual medical screenings to find any transgender service members who do not come forward.

That is fucking bullshit.

They can't do that.

I'm not even a big trans supporter, but this is just not right.

I hope they sue the US Air Force AND Trump.

The cruelty is the point.

None of our authenticated transphobes will show up in this thread, either. We all know who they are because they never hold back when sharing one of their right wing hit pieces. They might post their vitriol anonymously about this,but even they know this blatant discrimination against service members doesn't fit their "men in women's spaces" hate-narratives.

All those thinking about joining ICE should take a look at this. Trump and his friends don't believe in the concept of keeping promises. You will never get the benefits he's promising.

Happy, assholish anti-trans fags?

These people have served their country and EARNED their fucking benefits, and this lowlife drunken bum comes along and wants to take them away, with the help of a bunch of back stabbing cunts like DL's anti-trans bridgades.

A large chunk of our anti-trans trolls are heterosexual, R5. Many are conservative Brits and quite homophobic as well.

These people are monsters.

Pure evil and hatred towards people who have served the country. Yet another low for this government.

Once a Democrat comes into power, I bet they get their retirement reinstated with back pay. Just like Biden corrected evil things Trump did in his first term.

I am no fan of the trans. However this is not fair nor ethical. Retirement eligibility is based upon years of service if the individuals have the years of service they should be eligible for the early retirement and the benefits. Team Military Trans.

They will sue, get their pay, and all will be rectified. Meanwhile, the MAGAts will never hear of the decision to reinstate the pay and will consider it a major victory in their fight to make a Christian America.

[quote] Retirement eligibility is based upon years of service if the individuals have the years of service they should be eligible for the early retirement and the benefits.

Exactly.

Does anyone know what kind of legal recourse these people have?

They are getting screwed over big time.

I'm not a trans fan either, but this is 100 percent WRONG. They deserve their benefits.

Jesus fucking Christ.

I don't see how this is legal.

Thank you for your serivce, now fuck off.

This is illegal and won’t pass Constitutional muster. They already served thus are entitled to retirement pay.

It’s fucking common sense too.

Next up: Other service branches do it. Then they all deny retirement pay to gay people. Then Democrats. Then women. Then non-Christians.

[quote] About a dozen service members had been “prematurely notified” that they would be able to retire before that decision was reversed

This part is especially bad.

Can they rescind their retirement, due to this decision?

Or are they still being forced out anyway, because they're trans?

No Words.

[quote] This is illegal and won’t pass Constitutional muster. They already served thus are entitled to retirement pay.

Extraordinarily cruel, disgraceful and un-American but not exactly illegal. It appears the decision to grant early retirement benefits to servicemembers with 15 to 18 years honorable service was at the discretion of the military. Now the military has simply declined to do what was strictly at its discretion. It is not clear how servicemembers who were destined to be separated from the military could argue detrimental reliance, or some other cause of action.

It is very disgusting and shameful.

What does one mean when posting “Im not a fan of trans.”?

They are who they are. Don’t treat them like shit. They don’t affect you at all when they live their lives.

It’s as if a straight person says, “I’m not a fan to gays, but…”. See how stupid that sounds?

Those who are “not a fan of trans” contributed to a culture that now says it’s okay to deny people who have worked their asses off for over a decade protecting the country from getting the benefit anyone who isn’t trans would get.

This IS what American voted for. I’ve had to reassess my own impressions of our country. It’s a rancid place of greed and corruption enabled by religious zealotry, racism and xenophobia. I had hoped it was better than that but no, it’s a hellhole I am ashamed of and embarrassed by.

Yes, but so did crazy ass trans rights activists r23 who seemed to make it a personal mission to get everyone to hate them. But honestly, this is one of those issues that intelligent trans could actually use to win sympathy. This just seems so wrong on every level, and I think a lot of people will see that.

"Crazy ass trans rights activists" just shows your bias. There are good and bad in every group. The more extreme elements of any group are always amplified online by trolls trying to influence public opinion against that group, and through a combination of confirmation bias for your own existing prejudices and a lack of of any application of critical thinking skills on your part, you allowed yourself to be influenced to hate or, in the milquetoast passive language that you think absolves you, became "not a fan of" trans people, because it was easier to get worked up over the nonsensical posts of random trans people who aren't representative of actual trans community, as served up to you by algorithms and trolls and bad faith actors that you couldn't be bothered to question.

All over 1.7% of the population who largely just want to exist without harrassment or threat of violence. But some shit that Libs of TikTok filtered to an account your follow on X gets you all twisted up in knots.

Get a CLUE. Stop falling for propaganda from OUR worst enemies, the ones who don't care if you're straight acting bro who blends in or a trans woman who doesn't. They see us all the same and make none of the distinctions certain types here like to between LGB and T.

[Quote] Yes, but so did crazy ass trans rights activists [R23] who seemed to make it a personal mission to get everyone to hate them

Exactly what they say about gays who demand not to be attacked if they hold hands in public and demand equality like marriage

R21 I thought it would be illegal for the US Government to discriminate against one particular minority in awarding retirement benefits.

Yeah, got it, you're all crushing it. No notes. Don't ever change. You are all beautiful children of god and nobody should ever do anything differently, cause clearly Trans acceptance is on the inevitable road to victory.

Clearly.

Why? They deserve retirement pay like everyone else

Great post R26. Feel the exact same way about the mix of shameless bigotry, hypocrisy and ignorance wrapped up in all the “I don’t even like trans but this is too far for me” posts about this subject.

R5?

The threads on DL targeting, the LGBTG community, are more than likely sponsored/funded by whatever government or dictatorship they work for.

Trans are either less, or, even less as a group, that flagrant bigots use, as a form of fear mongering them as a cudgel.

R29 feels like the victim in this.

Think about that.

Hegseth is a vile creature.

What a world.

This is just so unnecessary. A really mean idea.

These people deserve a gofundme

I don’t think outside forces are posting on Datalounge. The trans hate is coming from inside the house.

And some of this is understandable. There is at least the appearance of gay erasure at play. I don’t think many trans people are acting on such motives, but it is hard to avoid the thought that effeminate boys and butch girls are being pressured to declare themselves the opposite sex rather than gays and lesbians.

Also, the most extreme asks of the trans ideology is creating a backlash that endangers us all. I might fight for it anyway if I thought it was actually wise or correct, but in many cases it is neither.

What to some of us is a simple question of respect, tolerance and solidarity is a more complicated matter for others.

[Quote] I thought it would be illegal for the US Government to discriminate against one particular minority in awarding retirement benefits.

The courts said it was fine to fire trans. Don’t rely on the courts to fix the retirement benefits

I should have also mentioned that some women who, for whatever reasons, are angry at, or fearful of, men, and therefore feel a need for environments that exclude men, may not accept that some men can “switch teams” and should be fully accepted as women despite having grown up as male. And other women may be inclined to offer their solidarity to those who feel that way. I think this is JK Rowling’s main concern.

The basis for the courts allowing Hegseth to fire trans troops is deference to the military in terms of its unique “expertise” on issue like unit cohesion. That deference would not necessarily apply to financial discrimination.

Soon they will be banned from serving at all.

They already are. That’s why they are talking about early retirement vs severance pay.

I think this is both wrong and petty, but the way I am interpreting it is that they aren’t taking an option away from trans service members that non-trans are entitled to, they are failing to allow them an extra benefit to compensate them for having to leave.

I don’t think early retirement is an automatic benefit that a service member (trans or not) can just ask for.

Now, given that this is applicable to those who have already put in at least 15 years in good faith AND the numbers are relatively small, it seems unconscionable. I’d like to read a more in-depth article that gives financial and non-financial details on how military exits work.

I’d also like to know what the behind closed doors conversations on this have been, but I don’t think that’s ever going to happen. I don’t have a strong opinion on trans service members because I don’t have an understanding of the issues. But I do know that relatively minor medical conditions can disqualify you, so the idea of prohibiting people who require ongoing refrigerated medications or who might decide they want to transition surgically while serving doesn’t seem crazy to me.

But the way this issue has been approached recently has been so ugly. It should be, “Thank you for your service” not “Don’t let the door hit you on the ass.” I’d like to know who chose the latter approach, and why. Are they punishing trans service people just to pander to bigots?

They are bigots and religious and crazy.

This is fucking disgusting. These are Americans who have sacrificed, done the hard work that others won't do and have faithfully served their country - many for decades. This is cruel, nasty and deeply morally bankrupt - i.e. everything which MAGA proudly stands for.

Will we gays be next? We should all have a good hard think about that.

how can this even be legal. how can forcing them out be legal? why isn't there a massive lawsuit?

[quote]Are they punishing trans service people just to pander to bigots?

Of course they fucking are R44.

[quote] why isn't there a massive lawsuit?

There will be.

[quote] They will sue, get their pay, and all will be rectified.

While I take some measure of comfort and hope from the confident tone of this declaration, I'm not so sure about the US federal judiciary anymore.

They just declined to affirm a judge exploring contempt against Trump's DOJ (Division of Jackasses) for failing to abide by an order applying to immigration misdeeds by ICE.

[quote] how can forcing them out be legal?

The Supreme Court has been captured by right-wing religious billionaires as the Republicans have appointed only conservative Catholics to the Court for generations. That’s how. They’d have appointed evangelicals if they weren’t all too stupid.

I’m not sure, R47. This decision has that effect, definitely. But at the cost of outraging a lot of people who were in favor of or didn’t care about the decision to ban trans service members.

I’m wondering if this is a tactic aimed at the actual current trans service members. Maybe in a week they will say, OK, you can retire early but this is your last chance and you need to do it now. Because at this point they are still in and facing “voluntary” or involuntary separation, right?

But it’s definitely fucked up.

How does Caitlyn Jenner like her Dear Leader, now?

So supportive of Trump and his policies.

But her hero just seems to be stripping everything away from trans people.

This is beyond shitty.

[quote] And some of this is understandable. There is at least the appearance of gay erasure at play. I don’t think many trans people are acting on such motives, but it is hard to avoid the thought that effeminate boys and butch girls are being pressured to declare themselves the opposite sex rather than gays and lesbians.

[quote] Also, the most extreme asks of the trans ideology is creating a backlash that endangers us all. I might fight for it anyway if I thought it was actually wise or correct, but in many cases it is neither.

[quote] What to some of us is a simple question of respect, tolerance and solidarity is a more complicated matter for others.

You've drunk the MAGA-spiked Kool Aid @r37 -- that is, provided you are not just a MAGA troll. Reactionaries always need a scapegoat to shift public sentiment to contempt, and have also always pitted marginalized groups against each other. No L, G, B or Q person can witness this barbaric attack on the dignity of trans and feel safe, we're next. If they can disenfranchise and dispossess trans without public outrage it will be a stunning success that will embolden them and desensitize regular people to cruelty and discrimination. This is just the beginning, the LGBQs will be next and it will be even easier.

"How does Caitlyn Jenner like her Dear Leader, now?

So supportive of Trump and his policies.

But her hero just seems to be stripping everything away from trans people."

Caitlyn Jenner is a Republican. She doesn't give a shit about anybody but herself, much less other trans people. It's the Republican way: Me first and always.

[quote] Caitlyn Jenner is a Republican. She doesn't give a shit about anybody but herself, much less other trans people. It's the Republican way: Me first and always.

Brucilla will only care when they ban her from the Country Club for using the women's restroom. Then she'll be crying the crocodile tears of a victim...and no one will care.

the fact that you would dismiss me as a MAGA troll says more about you than it does about me, r54.

Your are correct, R57. For starters it says that I despise MAGA trolls. Secondarily, it says that I can see that this reactionary '"gay erasure" nonsense is just a mask for anti-trans bigotry. I also don't believe that demanding the right to exist and to be safe from violence, discrimination and degradation is an "extreme ask." Finally, I know that human beings who've committed no crime who seek "respect, tolerance and solidarity" is never a "complicated matter."

We can never be certain who or what you are, just that equivocating in the face of this disgusting assault on trans is a sign that you are likely full of shit.

Whom we allow to serve in the military has been a stain on America’s history.

The list of those once banned is long: women, Blacks, Asians, Jews, Gays, Trans…

Trans are fully capable of serving and are allowed in the militaries of our allies.

Banning them in the US is pure bigotry

So r58, your position is that the only possible reservations about fully endorsing trans ideology by definition come from the extreme right and that any other concerns purporting to be expressed by gay people or feminists or anyone else are false flags intended to obscure the fascist lurking in disguise. How progressive of you.

Oh, and I am not “equivocating” at all about what happened. I was responding to the argument that anyone expressing any negative attitudes about trans people on Datalounge must be paid outside agitators which I think is a delusional attitude.

nasty sour drunk

[quote] I also don't believe that demanding the right to exist and to be safe from violence, discrimination and degradation is an "extreme ask."

That is not what I mean by trans extremism. You are being disingenuous to score cheap points.

I’m referring to demanding that everyone stop referring to people who give birth as “mothers” because men can be pregnant, and eliminating single sex spaces because they make trans people feel uncomfortable. The idea that a trans woman athlete has the right to compete in women’s competitions no matter the cost to anyone else. The idea that a just society must be reordered around the trans experience so that they never are burdened by feeling different.

Changes like this take a long time. Seeking to impose them immediately is counterproductive.

Nazi nightmare we can’t awake from…

I hope we will wake up in Nov 2028 with a blue wave so huge that they won’t be able to manipulate their way to victory, but that may be our last chance, and both sides know it.

[quote] Trans are fully capable of serving and are allowed in the militaries of our allies.

An out trans person is considered non deployable.

If the courts are deferring to the military to make decisions based on the cohesion bullshit - as they have done here - then we shouldn't be surprised if gays are next.

And any lawsuit that works its way up to the Supreme Court will lose considering the the SC has granted trump unlimited and unchecked power.

OPs picture makes him look sooo dumb.

How many people has R57 F&F today, because her delicate, yet masculine sensibilities have been triggered?

[quote] If the courts are deferring to the military to make decisions based on the cohesion bullshit - as they have done here - then we shouldn't be surprised if gays are next.

But they didn’t. That’s just false. The argument was physical standards / medical conditions.

They're just softening-up the public for what they have in store ahead. If they start shipping off LGBTQ+ folks to re-education camps, by that time- who will care?

"That is not what I mean by trans extremism. You are being disingenuous to score cheap points.

I’m referring to demanding that everyone stop referring to people who give birth as “mothers” because men can be pregnant, and eliminating single sex spaces because they make trans people feel uncomfortable."

And once again, you're taking the words of an extremist few and extrapolating them onto the vast majority of trans who simply want to live their lives without harassment from assholes. It's a favorite right wing/fascist trick: demonize the powerless.

You gotta lot of fucking nerve griping about cheap shots, Defucktardo.

[quote]How does Caitlyn Jenner like her Dear Leader, now?

Just as much as ever, if not more. Trump is doing everything that Caitlyn voted for, after all.

Like all conservative LGBT people, Caitlyn is only in it for herself, doesn't care about anyone poorer than her regardless of their identity, and is desperate to prove to fellow conservatives that she'll sell anyone else like her out in a heartbeat if it would inch her closer to acceptance by those same bigots.

Caitlyn does not care about feelow trans people despite being one, and does not care about veterans despite claiming to be a patriot. She only cares about herself and appearing as conservative as possible to other conservatives, so that they'll like her.

Conservatives are vile bigots filled with hatred, regardless of how they identify otherwise.

[quote] And once again, you're taking the words of an extremist few and extrapolating them onto the vast majority of trans who simply want to live their lives without harassment from assholes. It's a favorite right wing/fascist trick: demonize the powerless.

I did not do that. I used the word “extreme” intentionally to indicate that I was referring only to the most radical views which were the only ones I criticized

You are so determined to be offended that you are twisting my clear language into something no reasonable person would understand.

"I'm not MAGA at all and it's so funny that you would think that. I just think that when the trans people are under attack by the enemies we share, that maybe we as gay people should listen to JK Rowling when she says a lot of trans people had it coming for being so extremist. It's a real shame that this is happening, but maybe it's justified because of something I saw on X a few times."

Patently cruel, as are the rest of this Administration's policies.

People who served their country honorably deserve all the benefits that are due to them.

[quote] Patently cruel, as are the rest of this Administration's policies.

Agree that it is cruel.

[quote] People who served their country honorably deserve all the benefits that are due to them.

These benefits are not due to them. Under the circumstances, it seems appropriate to provide them. I 100% think any trans service members with 15-18 years of service should be given the option of early retirement, since they are forcing them out en masse. It’s the right thing to do.

But it is not due to them. Retirement is a benefit that is due after 20 years. Not 15 - 18. Apparently they have granted early retirement to trans service members with 18 years. 15 vs. 20 is a big difference. We are talking about people who are in their early 30’s to mid 40’s.

Arguing the point with information that materially misstates the situation makes this ridiculous and immoral decision less difficult to defend (granted, it’s still pretty impossible to come up with any justification). It’s just so fucking stupid, too. Even ignoring how fucked up it is to treat people that way. I bet the lawsuits and people trying to qualify for early retirement using a different angle are going to cost more than just doing the right thing (but I’m guessing).

"I did not do that. I used the word “extreme” intentionally to indicate that I was referring only to the most radical views which were the only ones I criticized."

And once again, you're being deliberately obtuse and claiming a few big mouthed radicals speak for the majority of trans people.

No matter how you try to slice and dice it, you're just being an asshole trying to score cheap political points.

Can the discharged trans join ICE and get a pension along with one of those big signing bonuses we taxpayers love handing out? That seems like a decent consolation prize and there seems to be no criteria other than blood thirst. They’re allowing minors to join for goodness sake, Why not transes?

Pete secretly loves chicks with dicks and he’s scared Jesus is going to find out.

[quote] I hope we will wake up in Nov 2028 with a blue wave so huge that they won’t be able to manipulate their way to victory, but that may be our last chance, and both sides know it.

I actually think it's already too late.

The damage Trump is doing now, will be virtually irreversible.

And he still has three and a half (legitimate) years to keep wreaking havoc.

That's IF he steps down in 2028, which I don't think he will.

[quote] Retirement is a benefit that is due after 20 years. Not 15 - 18. Apparently they have granted early retirement to trans service members with 18 years. 15 vs. 20 is a big difference. We are talking about people who are in their early 30’s to mid 40’s.

Exactly.

We are talking about people in their 30s and 40s, who dedicated 15 or more years of their life to military service, with the expectation of benefits after 20 years.

However, they are not ALLOWED to serve those 20 years, because they are being forced out for being trans.

So any "work equity" that they have built up from their teenage years, is completely gone.

Now, they have to start from scratch in the civilian workforce, with a lot of their peer group already ahead of them by 15-20 years. Those people have built up seniority in their jobs, and have likely earned promotions, as well.

These trans people who were summarily dismissed by the military, will all likely start at the entry level, in their 30s and 40s.

To me, that's not fair, and one of the reasons why the Air Force should grant them retirement pay.

It's just compensation.

[quote] That is not what I mean by trans extremism. You are being disingenuous to score cheap points.

Pot calling kettle black. MAGA is dedicated to branding every trans person with an outrageous ideology that the great majority do not support. Moreover, they want you to think that trans is a mental disorder rather than an identity. Most trans just want to blend in and avoid controversy. "Equivocating" was diplomatic. Giving voice to this nonsense at a juncture when the US government is BANNING trans people from serving on the military is fucking diabolical.

R83, thank you for stating it so plainly. Completely agree.

[quote] The damage Trump is doing now, will be virtually irreversible.

Not at all. Almost EVERYTHING Trump has done can be undone. I might retire in 2029 so I can work for the federal government task force that will be needed to undo everything Trump has done. I would do it for free.

[quote] Pete secretly loves chicks with dicks and he’s scared Jesus is going to find out.

Jesus already knows but curiously has visited his wrath on the rest of us.

That is disgusting.

FFS, R83. They aren’t 15 to 18 (20 years is not relevant as it sounds like those with 18 years are getting early retirement) years behind their peers. They will leave with their training and experience, which is valued. Yeah, some are going to end up in shitty jobs but others will work in IT, be electricians, operate commercial nuclear plants, repair vehicles. Officers might be at more of a disadvantage, but not uniformly.

It still sucks for them, though. And I agree with you on how they should be treated, with the point being that they aren’t being allowed to get to 20 (or 18) years. But your post is flat out insulting.

[quote] But your post is flat out insulting.

I am not r83. Which portion of that post do you find "insulting" or in any other way objectionable?

[Quote] An out trans person is considered non deployable.

Only by this Republican administration. They have served with distinction prior to this nonsense. Out trans people are welcome in nearly all our allies’ militaries.

.[quote] The argument was physical standards / medical conditions.

The argument before the courts was based on standards they created out of thin air to specifically exclude trans.

They will suddenly create a “unit cohesion” standard and then claim gays cause problem with unit cohesion