Pete Hegseth is withholding pay from discharged trans soldiers. LGBTQ+ Dems are demanding answers.https://www.lgbtqnation.com/2026/09/pete-hegseth-is-withholding-pay-from-discharged-trans-soldiers-lgbtq-dems-are-demanding-answers/ 🔗Daniel Villarreal (25 Sep 2026)
Democratic Congress members sent a letter on Wednesday demanding answers from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth about the military's failure to provide separation pay, as promised, to some trans service members who were forcibly removed from the armed forces under President Trump's ban on transgender soldiers.
"At least a dozen transgender troops have not received the separation funds they are owed," the letter opens. "This is unacceptable and appears to be another broken promise by this Administration to those who have served."
The letter blasts Hegseth and the administration of President Donald Trump for "not only kicking [trans people] out of the military but also subjecting them to constant indignities along the way," including language from the president's January 2025 executive order suggesting that trans people are selfish, dishonorable, deceitful, undisciplined, and unfit for military service.
The letter also notes an August 26 article from The Washington Post, which mentioned at least 12 trans military who haven't received their full separation pay in a timely fashion, including "an Army National Guardsman with twin 3-year-olds who is waiting for a $130,000 check, an Air Force major who flew search-and-rescue helicopters who was supposed to receive $340,000, and a Texas National Guard who is still owed more than $66,000."-------------------------------
@Sarah B
