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Seventeen seventeen transgender American military members has filed a lawsuit against the former president's government for denying their premature retirement benefits and associated benefits.

Legal Challenge Submitted in Federal Court

The legal filing, presented in federal court, describes the government's action as "unlawful and invalid" according to court documents.

This legal action comes after the USAF's confirmation that it would revoke premature pension benefits to all trans military personnel with 15 to 18 years of armed forces service, a ruling that essentially forces them out of the armed forces without retirement support.

"USAF's own pension guidelines states that pension authorization may only be revoked under very limited circumstances, none were present here," declares the lawsuit.

Plaintiffs and Economic Consequences

Among the listed claimants are Logan Ireland, Ashley Davis, Staff Sergeant Brimhall and Senior Master Sergeant Walley.

Legal advocacy groups acting for the affected service members stated that the cancellation of early retirement support had eliminated financial support and entitlements these households were counting on after long years of excellent service to their nation.

"The affected personnel will lose $1-2 million in long-term entitlements, threatening their families' economic security," according to the official declaration. "The action also strips the service members and their dependents of access to TRICARE, the military health insurance program, which would have provided access to private medical services beyond Veterans Administration centers."

Broader Context

The lawsuit came amid the latest escalation by the former administration to ban trans individuals from entering armed forces and to remove those currently enlisted. The Pentagon has argued that trans individuals are not medically qualified, something civil rights activists have pushed back on and say constitutes unlawful bias.

In March, a federal judge blocked Trump's executive order banning trans individuals from armed forces duty. Federal judge Judge Reyes in Washington DC ruled that the order likely violated their constitutional rights. Defense Department representatives have stated in the past that four thousand two hundred service members were identified as having "gender dysphoria", which they use as an marker of being transgender.

Air Force Policies

The Air Force, however, has distinguished itself in its enforcement of policies that go further than just separating troops from armed forces duty. As well as revoking early retirement benefits, the branch rolled out a recent regulation in late summer to refuse trans personnel the right to plead before a military review board for the authorization to continue serving.

The latest legal challenge, the latest in a string, is challenging that policy.

Court Requests

Per the court documents, the "plaintiffs' retirement orders remain valid and effective". Their attorneys are calling for these "authorizations to be restored" and advocating for "their military records be corrected appropriately". The complaint also says "accrued interest, costs and attorney's fees" must be included and "further relief as the judiciary deems just and proper."

"The military taught me to lead and fight, not retreat," stated Ireland, who has fifteen years of service. "Removing my pension communicates that those values only matter on the battlefield, not when a service member needs them most."