Transgender Air Force members sue Trump admin after losing retirement benefits
Seventeen transgender members of the U.S. Air Force are taking legal action against the federal government following their discharge under the Trump administration’s controversial transgender ban. The lawsuit, filed on Monday, highlights the revocation of retirement benefits and pensions for these service members, who had dedicated between 15 to 18 years of their lives to military service. In August, the Air Force announced a policy reversal stating that these individuals would not be allowed to retire early or apply for benefits, a decision that has left them facing potential financial losses of up to $2 million over their lifetimes, in addition to the loss of crucial health insurance benefits. Advocacy group GLAD Law, which is supporting the lawsuit, emphasizes the significant impact this policy has on the lives of the affected service members.
The plaintiffs, who had previously received approval for their retirements, express feelings of betrayal and injustice. Michael Haley, a staff attorney with GLAD Law, described the situation as part of a broader trend of discrimination against transgender individuals, noting that many of those involved had already begun transitioning to civilian life after receiving the green light from military authorities. Logan Ireland, a master sergeant with 15 years of service, articulated the emotional toll of having retirement benefits stripped away, stating, “Stripping away my retirement sends the message that those values only apply on the battlefield, not when a service member needs them most.” This lawsuit represents a continuation of the legal battles surrounding the military’s treatment of transgender personnel, especially following the Supreme Court’s decision in May to allow the ban to remain in effect while legal challenges continue.
The broader context of this legal action reflects ongoing tensions within the military regarding diversity, equity, and inclusion. Under President Donald Trump and former Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth, policies targeting transgender service members were implemented as part of a larger agenda to reshape military culture. In addition to denying retirement benefits, the Air Force’s new policy also prevents transgender members from appealing their discharges before a board of peers, further marginalizing these individuals. As the lawsuit unfolds, it underscores not only the personal struggles of the affected service members but also the ongoing national debate over the rights and recognition of transgender individuals in the armed forces.
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Seventeen transgender
Air Force members
discharged under the Trump administration’s transgender ban are suing the federal government for revoking their pensions and benefits after their forced early retirement.
The transgender members, who served between 15 years and 18 years in the Air Force, are asking for retirement benefits that had previously been offered to them.
The lawsuit, filed on Monday, comes after the Air Force said in August that transgender service members who have served between 15 and 18 years would not be offered the option to retire early and apply for benefits, a reversal of an earlier decision.
The service members impacted by the new policy now face a loss of up to $2 million owed for their service over the course of their lifetimes, on top of the loss of health insurance benefits, according to GLAD Law, one of the advocacy groups that helped bring the lawsuit.
FEDERAL JUDGE STRIKES DOWN BIDEN-ERA TRANSGENDER REGULATIONS
A staff attorney with the group, Michael Haley, said the revocation of the early retirement benefits was part of “the general cruelty in attacking transgender people,” adding that several of the plaintiffs had received orders allowing their retirements and that some had already started the process of leaving the military.
“These are folks who are going to move on with their lives, have received the OK to do so, and then have that taken away from them once again,” Haley said.
A master sergeant in the Air Force with 15 years of service, including a deployment to Afghanistan, joined the lawsuit after having early retirement rejected, saying “the military taught me to lead and fight, not retreat.”
PENTAGON STOPPING GENDER TRANSITION TREATMENT FOR TRANSGENDER TROOPS
“Stripping away my retirement sends the message that those values only apply on the battlefield, not when a service member needs them most,” Logan Ireland told The Associated Press.
This is just the latest legal challenge against the administration’s policies that seek to force transgender troops out of the military. In May, the U.S. Supreme Court allowed the
ban on transgender troops
to move forward while legal challenges proceed.
President Donald Trump and Pentagon chief
Pete Hegseth
have targeted transgender service members as part of their efforts to root out diversity, equity and inclusion in the military.
On top of revoking retirement benefits, the Air Force moved in August to deny transgender members the opportunity to argue before a board of their peers for the right to continue serving.
The Pentagon also recently revealed a similar version of that policy across the military.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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