Seventeen Transgender Air Force Members Sue for Lost Retirement Benefits

Seventeen transgender members of the Air Force have filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration, alleging unlawful denial of early retirement benefits. The complaint, submitted on Monday to the U.S. Court of Federal Claims in Washington, D.C., claims that the Air Force improperly rescinded retirement orders after the plaintiffs had served between 15 and 18 years.

The initial retirement orders were issued in June 2025 by Gwen DeFilippi, the Acting Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Manpower and Reserve Affairs. These orders were subsequently revoked in August 2025, following her replacement by Brian L. Scarlett, the Senior Advisor to the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Manpower and Reserve Affairs.

According to the lawsuit, filed by GLAD law, a firm specializing in LGBT rights, the Air Force’s own policy—DAFI 36-3203—states that retirement orders can only be rescinded under specific, limited circumstances, none of which the plaintiffs argue were applicable in their cases. The lawsuit seeks to reinstate the retirement orders, restore the associated benefits, and recover damages incurred by the plaintiffs.

The Air Force has indicated that early retirement benefits for these individuals required a higher-level review in light of the Pentagon’s new policy on gender dysphoria. They also stated that the plaintiffs were “prematurely notified” of their early retirement approval.

In May 2025, the Supreme Court allowed the Trump administration to proceed with a ban on transgender service members, which has impacted an estimated 4,240 active duty personnel diagnosed with gender dysphoria across the armed forces, as reported by the New York Times.

The Pentagon has referred inquiries to the Air Force, which has not yet responded to requests for comments on the lawsuit. This legal action highlights ongoing tensions regarding the treatment of transgender individuals in military service, amidst a backdrop of changing policies and legal challenges.

As the case unfolds, it may serve as a pivotal moment for the rights of transgender individuals in the military and the broader implications for service members facing similar challenges.