The U.S. Air Force has issued updated guidance that centralizes and standardizes separation boards for service members who no longer meet military requirements, including those affected by transgender policy changes.
The Associated Press first reported the change, citing an internal memo dated Aug. 12, 2025.
According to the memo, once a board confirms a member meets the policy’s criteria, “the board must recommend separation.”
Hearings are closed and will not be recorded. Instead, the case file includes an abbreviated transcript prepared after the hearing. The policy narrows the board’s role to a single factual finding.
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Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth arrives for a news conference at the Pentagon June 22, 2025, in Arlington, Va.
Supporters of stricter readiness standards argue the change avoids drawn-out cases and clarifies discipline. The AP notes that, in the past, boards sometimes retained members despite serious infractions, discretion critics said led to inconsistency.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has made “restoring the warrior ethos” and tougher physical standards central to his tenure. In his Jan. 25 message to the force, he vowed to “restore the warrior ethos … rebuild our military and reestablish deterrence,” then directed a rapid, department-wide review of fitness, body composition and grooming standards.
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A transgender pride flag is displayed outside the U.S. Supreme Court in Washington. This file photo is unrelated to the Air Force’s new guidance directing boards to recommend separation in certain transgender cases.
In July, he tightened medical waiver rules for new recruits, writing that America’s warfighters must be physically and mentally capable of performing in the harshest conditions.
The memo says the rules apply across the Department of the Air Force, including the Space Force, under a single Consolidated Disposition Authority to ensure uniform process and oversight. The AP also reported last week that the Air Force moved to end early retirement benefits for those who do not meet service requirements.
An aerial view of the Pentagon, where new directives for combat readiness are underway under Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
Original article source: Air Force tightens rules on transgender airmen; supporters say it prioritizes readiness: report
