Executive order fulfills campaign promise to restore military careers with back pay
Service members discharged for refusing the COVID-19 vaccine will be reinstated with full back pay and benefits under an executive order President Donald Trump is expected to sign Monday. The decision reverses a contentious policy implemented during the Biden administration, addressing a key campaign promise Trump highlighted during his inaugural address.
The move is part of a broader effort by the Trump administration to roll back policies he has criticized as overly "woke." Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, during his confirmation hearing, pledged to reinstate dismissed service members, saying, “They will be apologized to. They will be reinstated, reinstituted with pay and rank.”
Background on Dismissals
Between August 2021 and January 2023, the Biden administration discharged more than 8,000 service members—less than 1 percent of the total military force—for refusing the COVID-19 vaccine. While exemptions were granted for medical or religious reasons, the policy drew sharp criticism from Republican lawmakers and others who argued it undermined military readiness and infringed on personal freedoms.
Military regulations require personnel to receive a variety of vaccines as part of their standard onboarding process. However, the COVID-19 vaccine mandate became a flashpoint for political and cultural debates, fueled by concerns over religious discrimination and government overreach.
The Pentagon rescinded the mandate in 2023, allowing discharged service members to reapply, though only 43 chose to return to active duty.
A Political Shift
The reinstatement policy underscores a stark departure from the Biden administration's approach. President Trump’s executive order reflects his administration’s intent to address grievances raised by service members and Republicans alike.
Critics of the vaccine mandate argue that it eroded trust in military leadership and unfairly penalized individuals for personal or religious beliefs. Advocates of the policy, however, maintained it was necessary for unit readiness and the health of the force, particularly in the early stages of the pandemic.
The controversy also came with political ironies. Trump's first administration spearheaded Operation Warp Speed, which fast-tracked the development and distribution of COVID-19 vaccines. The military’s mandate, however, was only implemented after full FDA approval of the vaccine during the Biden presidency.
Moving Forward
The reinstatement process aims to provide dismissed service members with full pay, benefits, and their previous ranks. While it is unclear how many former service members will choose to return under the new policy, Trump officials are framing the move as both a corrective measure and a fulfillment of promises made to the military community.
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