WASHINGTON — The Department of Defense is preparing to reinstate thousands of service members who were discharged for refusing the COVID-19 vaccine, following an executive order signed by former President Donald Trump.
Nearly 8,000 active duty and reserve personnel were involuntarily separated over 500 days beginning in 2021, while others left voluntarily to avoid the vaccine mandate. Those who were discharged solely for vaccine refusal will be invited to return at their previous rank.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth directed military branches to notify eligible personnel through letters, emails, and phone calls. “This guidance will provide procedures to rapidly reinstate individuals who were involuntarily discharged or voluntarily left to avoid vaccination,” he wrote.
Reinstated service members will be eligible for back pay and benefits, while those who left voluntarily can reapply but will not receive compensation for lost time.
The move aligns with Hegseth’s stated goal of rebuilding the military and restoring what he calls “America’s warrior ethos.”