Overview
- Filed Nov. 10 in the U.S. Court of Federal Claims, the case is brought by 17 Air Force and Space Force members with 15–18 years of service and is led by GLAD Law with support from the National Center for LGBTQ Rights.
- Plaintiffs say the Air Force issued early retirement orders in June under a temporary program, then rescinded them in August, opting to separate transgender members without retirement benefits.
- The filing cites Air Force instruction DAFI 36-3203, arguing retirement orders can be revoked only in narrow circumstances that were not present, and seeks reinstated retirements, back pay, and record corrections.
- GLAD Law estimates each plaintiff stands to lose up to roughly $2 million in lifetime pension value in addition to military health coverage.
- The Pentagon has declined substantive comment, while the Air Force has previously said the members were prematurely notified pending higher-level review under new gender dysphoria policy; the Supreme Court has allowed the broader ban to be enforced during ongoing challenges.