In a dramatic legal showdown, a former employee has taken on a powerful government agency, alleging age and disability discrimination in the workplace. On February 18, 2026, Stephen Barlow filed a complaint against the Department of the Army in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, Newport News Division. The case accuses the Army of failing to accommodate Barlow’s disabilities and retaliating against him for engaging in protected activities under federal employment laws.
Stephen Barlow, who served as a Senior Labor Counselor at TRADOC (Training and Doctrine Command) headquarters in Fort Eustis, Virginia, claims that his rights were violated under several federal statutes including the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA), Rehabilitation Act, and Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA). According to court documents, Barlow has been suffering from multiple chronic physical disabilities such as neuropathy and sleep apnea which significantly impact his daily life. Despite these challenges, he asserts that he was able to perform all essential job functions with reasonable accommodations.
The conflict began when Barlow requested telework accommodations due to his medical conditions. His requests were allegedly met with resistance from his supervisors at TRADOC. Barlow recounts an incident where he was subjected to an extensive meeting questioning his need for accommodation while management ignored his explanations and belittled his disabilities. “I felt that the whole conversation centered around ignoring and belittling my disabilities,” stated Barlow in his complaint.
Barlow also claims that after requesting FMLA leave for medical treatment, he faced further retaliation. He alleges that upon returning from leave, he was unjustly removed from federal service under the pretext of being medically unable to perform essential job functions—a claim he disputes by highlighting consistent positive performance appraisals and lack of any complaints about his work quality or timeliness.
The lawsuit seeks various forms of relief including reinstatement to an equivalent position with full accommodations for his disabilities, restoration of leave, compensatory damages, attorney’s fees, costs, and potentially front pay if reinstatement is deemed inappropriate by the court.
Representing Stephen Barlow is attorney Jay Kyler from Kyler Law LLC. The case is presided over by Judge Laurence Linton with Case ID 4:26-cv-00021.
Source: 426cv00021_Barlow_v_Driscoll_Complaint_Eastern_District_Virginia.pdf
