According to a Fox News report, President Donald Trump plans to reinstate military service members who were discharged for refusing the COVID-19 vaccination.
Trump plans to reinstate the service members to their prior rank with full benefits and back pay.
“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 “After the vaccine mandate was repealed in 2023, only 43 of the more than the 8,000 troops dismissed elected to return to service under the Biden Administration and Secretary Austin.”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 make the move.
“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.
This story is developing…
EXCLUSIVE: @pdoocy confirms exclusively that President Trump will sign an executive order to reinstate service members removed from the military for refusing the COVID-19 vaccine, restoring their rank and providing back pay. Breaking details. https://t.co/Kl3t2JxbMD pic.twitter.com/inClTj6aE4
— Fox News (@FoxNews) January 27, 2025