Lauren Hodges

For instance, on the separation board hearings.

Priya Rashid is a military attorney working with several transgender service members, including in this story, but says she cannot speak directly about their cases.

She's had a front-row seat to the Pentagon's push to remove this service population since Trump's second term began.

In the latest directives, military separation boards have been ordered to find, unfit, and separate any transgender service member with a current or past documentation of gender dysphoria.

The Pentagon responded to NPR's request for comment by referring to the gender dysphoria policy guidance on its website.

Commander Blake Dremen, United States Navy, departing.

Back at the ceremony, the retirees are being handed their folded flags and doing their final walkouts.

Colonel Bree Fran, United States Space Force.

departing.

General McChrystal says the separations are a mistake and that they're affecting mission readiness, one of the listed values that Secretary Hegseth claims as a priority for his Department of War amid several simmering global conflicts.

Lauren Hodges, NPR News, Washington.