President Donald Trump plans to sign an executive order to reinstate military service members who were discharged for refusing the COVID-19 vaccine, according to a statement released by the White House. The order, set to be implemented by the Department of Defense, allows for the return of both active-duty and reserve troops who request reinstatement.
According to the White House fact sheet, the executive order mandates that eligible service members be reinstated to their prior rank. Additionally, they will be granted back pay and benefits to cover the time lost due to their discharge. The decision aims to address the fallout from vaccine mandate policies enforced between 2021 and 2023.
The fact sheet details that more than 8,000 troops were discharged during the Biden administration under the leadership of then-Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin. These dismissals were a result of noncompliance with the COVID-19 vaccination mandate introduced in 2021. Following the repeal of the mandate in 2023, only 43 service members of the over 8,000 dismissed opted to return to service under the prior administration’s reinstatement terms.
The reinstatement of discharged service members aligns with a key promise Trump made during his inauguration speech on January 20. “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,” Trump stated in his address.
The initiative reflects a broader commitment Trump made during his campaign last year. At the time, he pledged to rehire dismissed service members and provide them with back pay, as well as an official apology from the government. While the new executive order does not include the promise of an apology, the restoration of rank and benefits serves as the cornerstone of the policy.
This executive order comes during Trump’s first week back in office following his inauguration. Since returning to the presidency, he has signed multiple orders focused on undoing policies from the previous administration. The White House has indicated that this latest directive is part of an ongoing effort to address issues that emerged during the enforcement of COVID-19-related mandates in recent years.
As of now, the Department of Defense has not provided a specific timeline for processing reinstatement requests or distributing back pay to affected individuals. However, the executive order is expected to set clear guidelines for the process in the coming days. Military officials have indicated that they will coordinate efforts to ensure a streamlined transition for those wishing to return to service.
🚨BREAKING: President Trump is bringing back over 8,000 military members who were dismissed for not getting the Covid vaccine, granting them full back pay.
Promises made. Promises kept.
— Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) January 27, 2025
The reinstatement order is likely to have broad implications for the military, not only in terms of troop numbers but also with regard to policies on medical mandates. Further details on how this decision will affect military operations and long-term personnel planning are expected to emerge as the order is put into effect.
