Alyx, a transgender woman who has served in the U.S. Air Force for 15 years, says she feels deeply betrayed after the military took back her approved retirement. She says the change has left her in a dangerous financial position.
Earlier this year, Alyx was granted early retirement after the Trump administration’s ban on transgender people serving in the military took effect in May. Under the ban, trans service members had to either leave voluntarily or be discharged. Those with enough years of service could apply for retirement under special rules.
In late May, the Air Force allowed those with 15 to 18 years of service to request early retirement under an exception to the Temporary Early Retirement Authority (TERA). Alyx applied and was approved on June 16, with her retirement date set for December 1.
But on Wednesday, the Air Force reversed that decision for Alyx and about a dozen others. The only explanation she received was that her retirement had been approved “prematurely.” The Air Force later said exceptions to TERA for those with less than 18 years of service were never officially approved and needed higher-level review.
Alyx says the change is devastating. Without retirement, she will lose her pension and housing allowance. She bought a home last year assuming she would still receive pay and benefits.
“This is complete and utter betrayal,” Alyx said. “I served my country with honor, and now they’re forcing me out without the respect I deserve.”
Master Sgt. Logan Ireland, another trans service member with 15 years in the Air Force, also had his retirement approval canceled this week. He said it happened without any review or explanation, calling it “betrayal” and “disrespectful to honorable service members.”
Both Alyx and Ireland have deployed overseas multiple times, including to Afghanistan, Qatar, and South Korea. Alyx says she is proud of training over 500 airmen and working on missions that protected Air Force One.
She also says it’s painful to be told to go home while her unit is short on manpower. “I don’t really have a choice,” she said. “But I never wanted to abandon my fellow airmen.”
