The U.S. Air Force has introduced a new policy that blocks certain transgender service members from retiring early with benefits. This affects those who have served between 15 and 18 years. Instead of receiving retirement pay, they will now be separated from the military with no retirement package.

Previously, these mid-career service members had a chance to leave the force early and still receive some long-term support. With the change, their only options are to accept a one-time payout — which is normally given to junior soldiers — or be forced out with nothing.

A spokesperson for the Air Force, who spoke to the Associated Press on the condition of anonymity, explained that no requests for exceptions to this rule were approved. Around twelve people had already been told they could retire early, but those promises were taken back after the policy was reversed.

These separations are being carried out under guidelines first put in place during the Trump administration. A recent internal memo confirmed that each case was reviewed individually before the final decisions were made.

This move came shortly after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in May that the Pentagon could continue its ban on transgender individuals serving in the military. Not long after, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth outlined a process for openly transgender troops: they could either leave voluntarily and receive a one-time payment or face involuntary separation without benefits.

At the time, the Pentagon promised that all affected members would be treated with “dignity and respect.” Despite that promise, several transgender airmen shared their experiences with Military.com, saying that the process — especially being forced to change their records back to their birth gender — felt disrespectful and even cruel.