Trans Servicemembers File Lawsuit Challenging Clawback Of Their Retirement Money

Featured Image: photo credit, Margaret Hetherman

Yesterday, on Monday, Nov. 10, 17 transgender servicemembers, each with 15–18 years of service in the United States Air Force and United States Space Force filed a lawsuit, Ireland v. United States, against the Trump administration in the Federal Court of Claims for taking away the retirement money they earned, and which had been previously granted to them by the Secretary of the Air Force. 

Each of these families faces a potential loss of up to $1–2 million over the course of their lifetimes. GLAD Law’s Attorney Michael Haley spoke to that “senseless and shocking affront” to our troops in a statement release: “These brave transgender servicemembers deserve the retirement benefits they have earned and that the Air Force granted them. As a country, we must honor our word to them, not rip away their benefits.”

Beyond the loss of retirement funds, lifetime access to TRICARE health insurance was rescinded, which would have allowed them to receive healthcare from civilian or non-VA medical facilities. 

Back in June, the Air Force had issued retirement orders to transgender Airmen plaintiffs in this case. Two months later, the Air Force backed out of its retirement promise. Airmen were informed that they must be separated from the military without retirement under the new transgender military ban, instituted by Pete Hegseth, the former Fox News Host who was named head of the Defense Department (now Department of War), under the Trump Administration.

Related: Trump Signs Executive Order Banning Transgender People In The Military

The stage was set earlier in the year, when Donald J. Trump issued an Executive Order, signed on Air Force One, aimed at banning transgender service members within the U.S. military. The EO stated that “expressing a false ‘gender identity’ divergent from an individual’s sex cannot satisfy the rigorous standards necessary for military service.”

“I raised my hand and served my country honorably for 15 years, including a deployment to Afghanistan,” said Master Sergeant Logan Ireland, the lead plaintiff in the current lawsuit. “Ripping away the retirements we have earned is a betrayal of the sacrifices made by servicemembers and our families. We should not be thrown into economic hardship or made to feel our years of service are regarded by our country as meaningless.”

Plaintiffs in this case are represented by the National Center for LGBTQ Rights, GLAD Law, and pro-bono counsel from Stapleton Segal Cochran LLC and The Law Office of Jeremy Spiegel.

GO Magazine extends heartfelt gratitude to all our troops. We honor you today on Veterans Day, and every day. Thank you for your sacrifice and service to our country.