Air Force Veteran Alyx Anguiano Stripped of Retirement Under Trump-Era Transgender Purge

Technical Sergeant Alyx Anguiano dedicated nearly two decades of her life to the United States Air Force, serving as a weapons course instructor specializing in fighter jet armaments. Her career, marked by distinction and commitment, was brought to a sudden halt due to policy changes affecting transgender service members. Anguiano began her gender transition in 2016, following the Obama administration’s decision to lift the ban on open transgender service in the military .

However, her sense of security was short-lived. In May 2025, the Department of the Air Force announced that transgender airmen with 15 to 18 years of service could apply for early retirement under the Temporary Early Retirement Authority (TERA) policy. Anguiano, along with others, was initially approved, believing she would receive the retirement benefits she had earned through her years of service .

Just months after the initial approvals, the Air Force reversed course, stating that early retirement applications from transgender airmen had been “prematurely approved.” The decision meant that those who had already begun making plans for life after military service were now forced to choose between voluntary separation—without retirement benefits—or involuntary separation, which also fails to provide the security and recognition typically afforded to military retirees .

For Anguiano, and others in similar situations, the effect has been devastating. “This isn't just a fight for us,” she told The Advocate. “It's a threat to every person who has served or is currently serving” . The abrupt policy reversal upended lives and left many transgender veterans feeling betrayed by the institution to which they had devoted their careers.

Master Sergeant Logan Ireland, another affected airman, said, “My initial reaction was a sense of loss and betrayal.” Ireland, who had served 15 years, expressed that early retirement would have at least provided some closure and security for his family .

The policy reversal is rooted in the broader context of the Trump administration’s ban on open transgender military service, which was announced in 2017 and implemented in 2019. The ban reversed progress made under the Obama administration and led to a series of legal and policy challenges for transgender service members . Although the Biden administration has since lifted the ban, vestiges of the Trump-era policy continue to affect transgender veterans and active-duty personnel, as seen in Anguiano’s case.

The uncertainty surrounding retirement and benefits for transgender service members is compounded by shifting legal interpretations and administrative decisions. The situation for Anguiano and others underscores the precarious status many transgender people in the military still face, despite formal policy changes at the highest levels .

LGBTQ+ advocacy groups and military organizations have responded with outrage and concern. They argue that retroactively stripping retirement benefits from people who have served honorably is not only unjust but also sets a dangerous precedent for all service members, regardless of gender identity .

Advocates are urging Congress and the Department of Defense to take immediate action to clarify and secure the rights of transgender veterans. “Transgender people who serve our country deserve the same respect and benefits as any other service member,” said an unnamed spokesperson for a leading LGBTQ+ military rights organization .

In the meantime, Anguiano and others continue to advocate for themselves and their peers. For many, the fight is about more than individual benefits; it is about recognition, dignity, and the fundamental principle that all who serve should be treated equally, regardless of gender identity.