Air Force Transgender Members Fight for Lost Benefits

A group of 17 transgender Air Force members is taking legal action against the U. S. government. They claim the military unfairly took away their early retirement benefits and pensions. This lawsuit was filed in federal court recently, months after the Air Force decided to deny early retirement to transgender service members who have served between 15 and 18 years. This is not the first time the Trump administration's policies on transgender troops have faced legal challenges. The U. S. Supreme Court allowed the ban on transgender troops to be enforced while other legal battles continue. According to GLAD Law, an advocacy group involved in the lawsuit, affected service members could lose up to $2 million in benefits over their lifetimes. They will also lose health insurance. Michael Haley, a staff attorney with GLAD Law, described the revocation of benefits as part of a broader pattern of cruelty against transgender people.Logan Ireland, a master sergeant with 15 years of service, including a deployment to Afghanistan, is one of the plaintiffs. He had his early retirement denied and spoke out against the decision. He said the military taught him to lead and fight, not retreat. Taking away his retirement sends a message that the military's values don't apply when service members need them most. The Pentagon has not commented on the lawsuit. President Donald Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth have targeted diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts, claiming it makes the military more lethal. Pentagon officials say 4, 240 troops have been diagnosed with gender dysphoria, which the military uses to identify transgender individuals. The Air Force has implemented policies that go beyond just separating troops from service. In addition to revoking retirement benefits, the service denied transgender members the chance to argue before a board of their peers for the right to continue serving. The Pentagon recently rolled out a similar policy for the entire military.