17 transgender Air Force members sue Trump admin over lost retirement benefits
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17 transgender Air Force members fired under the Trump administration’s transgender ban are suing the federal government for revoking their pensions and benefits following their mandatory early retirement.
Transgender members who have served 15 to 18 years in the Air Force are demanding retirement benefits previously available to them.
The lawsuit filed Monday comes after the Air Force said in August that transgender soldiers who have served between 15 and 18 years would not be given the option to retire early and apply for benefits; this amounted to a reversal of an earlier decision.
Soldiers affected by the new policy face a loss of up to $2 million for their service over their lifetime, in addition to the loss of health insurance benefits, according to GLAD Law, one of the advocacy groups that helped file the lawsuit.
FEDERAL JUDGE REMOVED BIDEN ERA TRANSGENDER REGULATIONS
A group of 17 transgender Air Force members filed a lawsuit against the federal government after the military rescinded their early retirement benefits. (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)
Michael Haley, the group’s staff attorney, said the rescinding of early retirement benefits was part of a “general persecution of transgender people,” adding that some of the plaintiffs had received orders allowing their retirement and some had already begun the process of leaving the military.
“These are people who were going to get on with their lives, had permission to do so, and then had that right taken away from them once again,” Haley said.
A staff sergeant who served 15 years in the Air Force, including a stint in Afghanistan, joined the cause after being denied early retirement, saying “the military taught me to lead and fight, not retreat.”
PENTAGON STOPS GENDER TRANSITION TREATMENT FOR TRANSMENTIONS
Transgender service members are demanding retirement benefits previously available to them. (Reuters)
“Taking away my retirement sends the message that these values only apply on the battlefield, not when a soldier needs them most,” Logan Ireland told the Associated Press. he said.
This is the latest legal challenge against the administration’s policies to remove transgender troops from the military. In May, the U.S. Supreme Court allowed the ban on transgender troops to stand while legal challenges continue.
President Donald Trump and Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth have targeted transgender service members as part of efforts to root out diversity, equity and inclusion in the military.
Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth and President Donald Trump have targeted transgender service members as part of efforts to eliminate perceived diversity, equity and inclusion in the military. (Evan Vucci/AP)
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In addition to rescinding retirement benefits, the Air Force moved in August to deny transgender members the opportunity to argue before a panel of their peers for the right to continue service.
The Pentagon recently rolled out a similar version of this policy across the military.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
