I feel like the Trump administration is taking hits non-stop right now, and another one just came from transgender members of the Air Force.
They are suing for retirement benefits they were allegedly promised.
More than a dozen Air Force members who have all served at least 15 years say they were stripped of their benefits, and they are now seeking compensation.
After taking office, Donald Trump issued an order to ban transgender individuals from military service.
The move was immediately challenged, but there was a secondary fight as well.
It was reported at the time that numerous service members who were made subject to dismissal had been told they were going to receive their retirement benefits even though they had not served the required minimum of 20 years.
This move appeared to be an olive branch to have the individuals separate from the service quietly.
It was later revealed that these veterans, all of whom had served at least 15 years and some as many as 18 years, were in fact being stripped of their benefits.
Logan Ireland, a master sergeant in the Air Force with 15 years of service, was one of the members who was forced out. He stated, “Stripping away my retirement sends the message that those values only apply on the battlefield, not when a service member needs them most.”
The Trump order, as we mentioned earlier, was challenged but partially upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court. In part, Trump’s order stated, "Beyond the hormonal and surgical medical interventions involved, adoption of a gender identity inconsistent with an individual’s sex conflicts with a soldier’s commitment to an honorable, truthful, and disciplined lifestyle, even in one’s personal life.”
It continued, "A man’s assertion that he is a woman, and his requirement that others honor this falsehood, is not consistent with the humility and selflessness required of a service member."
On Monday, the group of Air Force veterans who were discharged filed a lawsuit against the administration to have their benefits reinstated.
A staff attorney with the group, Michael Haley, stated, "These are folks who are going to move on with their lives, have received the OK to do so, and then have that taken away from them once again.”
This is a really touchy subject, but I will say right now, I wonder how many more hits the Trump administration can withstand. Do you strip these benefits after they were allegedly promised, or do you fight back against the claims, knowing that more lawsuits are going to follow if you cave?
This is one where I would love to hear from our readers, specifically any veterans who served with transgender troops. Should they get their benefits? Should they be permitted to serve? Let us know what you think about it.
