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A group of 17 transgender US Air Force members has filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration for denying their premature retirement benefits and associated benefits.

Legal Challenge Filed in US District Court

The legal filing, submitted in federal court, characterizes the government's action as "illegal and void" according to legal papers.

This legal action comes after the Air Force's announcement that it would revoke premature pension benefits to all trans military personnel with 15 to 18 years of military experience, a decision that effectively pushes them out of the armed forces without retirement support.

"USAF's own pension guidelines states that pension authorization may only be revoked under extremely restricted conditions, none were present here," states the lawsuit.

Plaintiffs and Economic Consequences

Among the listed claimants are Logan Ireland, Ashley Davis, Kira Brimhall and Lindell Walley.

Civil rights organizations acting for the impacted military personnel stated that the cancellation of premature pension benefits had eliminated financial support and benefits these households were counting on after many years of excellent service to their country.

"These service members will lose $1-2 million in lifetime benefits, jeopardizing their families' economic security," per the legal statement. "The action also removes the airmen and their families of access to military health insurance, the military health insurance program, which would have provided access to private medical services beyond Veterans Administration centers."

Wider Background

The legal challenge came amid the latest escalation by the Trump administration to prohibit transgender people from entering armed forces and to discharge those currently enlisted. The Pentagon has claimed that trans individuals are medically unfit, something civil rights activists have strongly contested and say represents illegal discrimination.

In March, a federal judge blocked the former president's directive banning transgender people from armed forces duty. Federal judge Judge Reyes in Washington DC determined that the order likely violated their constitutional rights. Pentagon officials have said in the past that four thousand two hundred military personnel were identified as having "gender identity disorder", which they use as an identifier of being transgender.

USAF Regulations

The USAF, however, has distinguished itself in its enforcement of regulations that go further than just discharging personnel from military service. As well as rescinding premature pension benefits, the branch implemented a new policy in August to refuse transgender members the right to argue before a military review board for the authorization to continue serving.

The most recent lawsuit, the latest in a string, is challenging that regulation.

Court Requests

According to the court documents, the "claimants' pension authorizations remain valid and effective". Their attorneys are demanding these "authorizations to be reinstated" and pushing for "their military records be amended appropriately". The lawsuit also says "accrued interest, legal expenses and lawyer costs" must be included and "additional compensation as the court deems fair and appropriate."

"Armed forces taught me to command and combat, not retreat," stated Ireland, who has 15 years of service. "Stripping away my retirement communicates that those values only matter on the front lines, not when a military member needs them most."