Transgender Veterans Sue U.S. Government Over Revoked Retirement Benefits
Seventeen transgender veterans have filed a class-action lawsuit against the U.S. federal government, challenging the Trump administration over denied military retirement benefits. The case, brought before the U.S. Court of Federal Claims in Washington, claims the veterans were unjustly stripped of their pensions despite years of honorable service. The legal challenge comes in the wake of a series of controversial policies during Donald Trumpâs second term, including the rollback of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs in federal institutions and a renewed ban on transgender individuals serving in the military.
Approved Retirements Abruptly Rescinded Without Explanation
According to the complaint, many of the veterans had received official retirement orders as early as June. But by August, those orders were unexpectedly cancelled, leaving the service members without access to their earned pensions. GLAD Law, the legal team representing the plaintiffs, argues that U.S. Air Force regulations only permit the reversal of retirement decisions in cases of fraud or administrative errorsâneither of which apply here.
âThe Air Forceâs own policy is clearâretirement orders can only be withdrawn under extremely limited circumstances,â said Michael Haley, an attorney with GLAD Law, in an interview with the Washington Post. âThere has been no evidence of fraud or miscalculation in any of these cases, yet no legal reason has been provided for the reversals.â
Widespread Condemnation from Civil Rights Advocates
LGBTQ+ rights organizations have condemned the governmentâs actions, denouncing them as blatant discrimination. Shannon Minter, Legal Director at the National Center for LGBTQ Rights, strongly criticized the policy in a statement to The Independent: âThis administration is actively betraying veterans by revoking retirement pay and healthcare from those who served with honor around the world.â Minter added, âNo other administration has shown such direct hostility toward its own service members.â
Financial and Emotional Fallout for Transgender Veterans
One of the plaintiffs, Logan Irelandâa transgender veteran with 15 years of service and a deployment in Afghanistanâshared the personal impact of the decision: âItâs a devastating betrayal. We made real sacrifices for our country, and now weâre being told our service doesnât matter. Losing retirement benefits puts our families in financial jeopardy and strips us of the security weâve earned.â
GLAD Law estimates that each plaintiff may face economic losses of up to $2 million, factoring in lost retirement pay and lifetime access to military healthcare. Attorney Michael Haley described the actions as part of a âcruel and calculated effort to marginalize transgender service members,â linking it to broader anti-LGBTQ+ initiatives pursued by the Trump administration.
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