Class Action Filed Against the U.S. Federal Government

Seventeen transgender veterans have taken legal action against the Trump administration, filing a lawsuit before the U.S. Court of Federal Claims in Washington. The legal complaint alleges that these former service members were unfairly denied retirement benefits, despite their years of honorable service. The filing follows a series of controversial measures introduced during Donald Trump’s second presidential term, including the dismantling of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs across federal agencies and the military, as well as a targeted ban on transgender individuals serving in the armed forces.

Retirement Orders Issued—Then Revoked Without Explanation

The plaintiffs report that retirement orders had been issued as early as June for several service members forced to exit the military due to the ban. However, by August, those retirement directives were abruptly rescinded without clear justification, leaving the affected personnel without pensions. According to GLAD Law, the legal organization representing the veterans, internal regulations of the U.S. Air Force only allow retirement orders to be reversed under very narrow circumstances—such as fraudulent activity or a clear administrative error—which, the firm argues, do not apply in these cases.

Attorney Michael Haley of GLAD Law told the Washington Post: “Air Force policy is explicit: retirement orders, once issued, can only be withdrawn under exceptional cases like fraud or miscalculation. None of those criteria are present here, and the Air Force has not provided any legal grounds for cancelling these retirements.”

Policy Widely Condemned as Discriminatory

Advocacy groups have widely criticized the government’s actions, calling them a blatant form of discrimination. Shannon Minter, Legal Director of the National Center for LGBTQ Rights, stated in an interview with The Independent: “The Trump administration continues to betray our veterans by stripping retirement pay and healthcare benefits from honorably discharged airmen deployed across the globe.” She further noted the administration’s unprecedented stance: “Never before has a U.S. administration shown such overt hostility toward the brave individuals who have served our country.”

Severe Human and Financial Consequences

One of the plaintiffs, Logan Ireland, a veteran with 15 years of service including deployment in Afghanistan, spoke about the personal toll of the cancellation: “Taking away the retirement benefits we’ve earned is a betrayal of the sacrifices we and our families have made.” He added, “We shouldn’t be left in economic uncertainty or made to feel like our service means nothing to the nation we protected.”

GLAD Law estimates that each veteran could face up to $2 million in economic losses, covering not only retirement payments but also access to military healthcare. Attorney Michael Haley characterized the decisions as part of a “cruel and senseless campaign targeting transgender troops and transgender people at large,” orchestrated by the Trump administration.

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