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President Donald Trump is set to sign an executive order on Monday (January 27) to reinstate military service members who were discharged for refusing the COVID-19 vaccine. The order will direct the Secretary of Defense to reinstate both active and reserve members to their previous ranks, with full back pay and benefits.
This move fulfills a campaign promise made by Trump to address the discharges that occurred between 2021 and 2023 under the Biden administration. During that period, over 8,000 service members were discharged for not complying with the vaccine mandate. However, only 43 of those dismissed chose to return after the mandate was repealed in 2023.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed the reinstatement plan during his recent confirmation hearings, stating that each discharged troop will receive an apology, back pay, and their previous rank. Hegseth emphasized the importance of restoring esprit de corps and military readiness.
The executive order is part of a broader agenda by the Trump administration to reverse certain policies from the previous administration. It also includes plans to remove Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives within the Pentagon and to end policies allowing transgender individuals to serve openly in the military.