Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has directed the Department of Defense (DOD) to start removing transgender troops from the military in early June if they do not exit voluntarily, according to a new

Stehlik, who has been in the military since she went to the U.S. Military Academy at West Point in 2004, transitioned in 2017, while serving in the Army. She said that for her and others who haven’t hit their 20-year retirement milestone, being kicked out would mean a major loss of benefits, including a pension and health insurance.