- Transgender U.S. service members in the Navy have until March 28 to voluntarily step down before they’re forced to do so. The Navy says its policy is in line with the U.S. Department of Defense’s new rule, stating that service members who choose to depart before the deadline will be eligible for separation pay, which is twice as much as they’d receive if discharged.
- The order comes down from President Donald Trump, who signed an executive order on transgender individuals in the military.
- Some transgender military personnel have served for more than a decade, and separation payments could be more than $100,000 even before being doubled, and bonuses could reach up to hundreds of thousands of dollars.
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Transgender U.S. service members in the Navy have until March 28 to voluntarily leave before being forced to do so by new military policy under the Trump administration.
How much are service members eligible for?
The Navy says its policy is in line with the U.S. Department of Defense’s new rule, saying service members who choose to depart before the deadline will be eligible for separation pay, which is twice as much as they would get if they are later discharged.
Those who decide to take voluntary separation by the deadline will get double the normal involuntary separation, which is typically 10% of service members base pay multiplied by years of service.
Some transgender military personnel have served for more than a decade, and separation payments could be more than $100,000, even before being doubled. Bonuses could reach up to hundreds of thousands of dollars as well.
Why are they offering this option?
Since the Pentagon revealed its new policy, each of the armed service departments has released its own memo on how they will follow through on the transgender ban and offer voluntary separation.
The Army and Air Force have given transgender members until March 28 to choose voluntary separation.
Could the ban be put on hold?
A pair of lawsuits against the policy, however, are threatening to put the ban on hold. A federal judge said she expects to make a ruling soon on whether to block the ban from taking effect while the lawsuits play out in court.
What does the move stem from?
The DOD is working to remove transgender people from the military because of an executive order by President Donald Trump, which claims being transgender isn’t “consistent with the humility and selflessness required of a service member.”
Military members can get a waiver, but they are reportedly so strict that advocates argue they’re impossible to fulfill.
