Transgender troops face a deadline and a difficult decision: Stay or go?
June 6, 2025
As transgender service members face a deadline to leave the U.S. military, hundreds are taking the financial bonus to depart voluntarily. But others say they’ll stay and fight. For many, it’s a wrenching decision to end a career they love. And they’re angry they’re being forced out by the Trump administration’s renewed ban on transgender troops serving in the military. For others, it’s a call to arms. Active duty service members have until Friday to identify themselves and begin to leave the military voluntarily. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth says the changes are what America voted for, and the Pentagon is “leaving wokeness & weakness behind,” and that includes “no more dudes in dresses.”