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A group of 17 transgender US Air Force members has filed a lawsuit against the former president's government for denying their premature retirement benefits and related entitlements.

Court Action Submitted in Federal Court

The formal complaint, presented in federal court, characterizes the administration's decision as "illegal and void" according to court documents.

This legal action follows the Air Force's confirmation that it would deny premature pension benefits to all trans military personnel with 15-18 years of military experience, a decision that effectively pushes them out of the military without pension benefits.

"USAF's own pension guidelines provides that retirement orders may only be rescinded under very limited circumstances, none were applicable in this case," declares the lawsuit.

Claimants and Financial Impact

Included in the listed claimants are Master Sergeant Ireland, Ashley Davis, Kira Brimhall and Lindell Walley.

Civil rights organizations acting for the affected service members stated that the revocation of premature pension benefits had ripped away financial support and benefits these families were depending on after many years of excellent service to their country.

"The affected personnel will forfeit $1-2 million in long-term entitlements, jeopardizing their families' economic security," per the legal statement. "The action also strips the airmen and their dependents of eligibility for TRICARE, the military health insurance program, which would have provided access to private medical services in addition to VA facilities."

Wider Background

The lawsuit occurred during the latest escalation by the Trump administration to prohibit transgender people from joining the military and to remove those currently enlisted. The Pentagon has argued that transgender people are medically unfit, something human rights advocates have pushed back on and say constitutes unlawful bias.

In March, a US district judge blocked Trump's executive order banning trans individuals from armed forces duty. US district judge Ana Reyes in the nation's capital determined that the directive likely infringed upon their fundamental rights. Pentagon officials have said in the past that 4,200 military personnel were diagnosed with "gender dysphoria", which they use as an marker of being trans.

USAF Regulations

The Air Force, however, has stood apart in its enforcement of policies that go beyond just discharging personnel from armed forces duty. As well as rescinding early retirement benefits, the service implemented a recent regulation in late summer to deny trans personnel the opportunity to plead before a board of their peers for the authorization to continue serving.

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

Legal Demands

According to the legal filings, the "plaintiffs' retirement orders remain valid and effective". Their attorneys are demanding these "authorizations to be restored" and pushing for "service documents be amended accordingly". The lawsuit also says "accrued interest, legal expenses and attorney's fees" must be accounted for and "additional compensation as the judiciary deems fair and appropriate."

"The military trained me to command and combat, not withdraw," stated Ireland, who has 15 years of military experience. "Stripping away my pension communicates that those principles only matter on the front lines, not when a military member needs them most."