Air Force Eliminates Peer Review for Transgender Airmen Facing Separation Under Trump-Era Directive

The U.S. Air Force has issued a new memo stating that transgender airmen identified for separation under a recent Trump administration directive will no longer be afforded the opportunity to argue their case before a board of their peers. This significant policy shift mandates that military separation boards "must recommend separation" if an airman has a diagnosis of gender dysphoria, effectively removing the board's independent decision-making authority. The change, announced in a memo dated August 13, 2025, marks a further tightening of regulations impacting transgender service members.

This development follows the U.S. Supreme Court's decision in May 2025, which allowed the Trump administration's ban on transgender military service to proceed while legal challenges continue. The ban generally disqualifies individuals with a diagnosis or history of gender dysphoria from serving, or those who have undergone medical interventions for gender transition. Pentagon officials indicate approximately 4,240 troops have been diagnosed with gender dysphoria.

Military legal experts have voiced strong objections, labeling the new Air Force policy as potentially unlawful. Priya Rashid, a military lawyer with extensive experience in separation boards, stated she has "never seen an order like this," highlighting that traditional boards are empowered to retain service members for various reasons if deemed in the military's best interest. The new guidance, according to Rashid, "is essentially saying you will not make a determination of whether somebody has future potential in the service" based solely on a diagnosis.

The memo also prohibits the recording of separation board proceedings, a move critics argue will hinder oversight and undermine the appeal process. This change is the second recent policy adjustment by the Air Force targeting transgender service members, following a decision last week to deny early retirement benefits and revoke previously approved requests for those affected by the ban.

Transgender service members, who previously sought to leverage these boards to demonstrate their continued value, now face a more uncertain path. Senior Master Sgt. Jamie Hash, an airman since 2011, expressed a desire to be "evaluated on my years of proven capability," while Master Sgt. Logan Ireland stated he "chose the involuntary route because I believed in the promise of a fair hearing." Both now feel that promise is being "ripped away."

Advocacy groups, including the Modern Military Association of America, warn that the policy fosters a "growing loss of trust" within the military, suggesting that identity, rather than ability or achievement, is becoming the determinant for continued service. There are concerns this Air Force directive could set a precedent for other military branches.