According to multiple reports, President Donald Trump is readying an executive order to reinstate U.S. military service members who were discharged for refusing the COVID-19 vaccination.
“The Executive Order directs the Secretary of Defense to reinstate all members of the military (active and reserve) who were discharged for refusing the COVID vaccine and who request to be reinstated,” according to the White House fact sheet.
The service members who are reinstated will be restored to their prior rank and will be provided back pay and benefits, according to the fact sheet.
“From 2021 to 2023, the Biden Administration and former Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin discharged over 8,000 troops solely due to their COVID-19 vaccination status,” the fact sheet notes. “After the vaccine mandate was repealed in 2023, only 43 of the more than the 8,000 troops dismissed elected to return to service under the Biden Administration and Secretary Austin.”
During his inauguration speech, Trump pledged to reinstate the service members.
“This week I will reinstate any service members who were unjustly expelled from our military for objecting to the COVID vaccine mandate, with full back pay,” the president declared during remarks on Jan. 20.
Newly appointed Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth confirmed Trump’s intentions while speaking to the press Monday morning outside of the Pentagon.
“There are more executive orders coming,” Hegseth told reporters. “On removing DEI inside the Pentagon; reinstating troops who were pushed out due to COVID mandates; an Iron Domw for America … these are things that are happening quickly,” Hegseth confirmed.
Watch the clip below:
🚨 JUST IN: Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has arrived at the Pentagon for the first time
And he’s laid out EXACTLY how the Trump Pentagon will operate:
“Every moment that I’m here, I’m thinking about the guys and gals in Guam, in Germany, Fort Benning, and Fort Bragg, on… pic.twitter.com/shT0WMChWS
— Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) January 27, 2025
