Transgender Air Force Members File Lawsuit Over Retirement Benefits

Seventeen transgender members of the U.S. Air Force have initiated legal action against the Trump administration, claiming the government unlawfully canceled their early retirement benefits. The lawsuit, filed on Monday in the U.S. Court of Federal Claims in Washington, D.C., contends that the Air Force rescinded their retirement orders after these individuals had served between 15 and 18 years.

The original retirement orders were issued in June 2025 by Gwen DeFilippi, who was the Acting Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Manpower and Reserve Affairs. However, these orders were 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.

Representing the plaintiffs, GLAD Law, a firm specializing in LGBT rights, argues that the Air Force’s own guidelines—specifically DAFI 36-3203—state that retirement orders can only be rescinded under very limited circumstances, which the plaintiffs assert were not applicable in their cases. The lawsuit seeks to reinstate the retirement orders, restore the associated benefits, and recover damages accrued by the plaintiffs due to the cancellation.

The Air Force had previously indicated to NBC News that early retirement benefits necessitated a higher-level review under the Pentagon’s revised policy regarding gender dysphoria. The Air Force claimed that the plaintiffs had been “prematurely notified” of their approval for early retirement.

In a broader context, the legal action follows a decision by the U.S. Supreme Court in May, which permitted the Trump administration to implement a ban on transgender individuals serving in the military. According to the New York Times, approximately 4,240 active duty service members are diagnosed with gender dysphoria across the armed forces.

At present, the Pentagon has deferred inquiries to the Air Force, which has not responded to requests for additional comments. As the situation develops, the outcome of this lawsuit could have significant implications for the rights of transgender service members within the military.