Trump Reveals Plan to REINSTATE Military Vets and Members Discharged Over Vaccine

Former President Donald Trump vows to reinstate military members discharged over COVID-19 vaccine refusal, promising full back pay and an apology.

At a Glance

  • Over 8,000 service members were discharged for refusing the COVID-19 vaccine
  • Trump pledges to reinstate these personnel with full back pay if re-elected
  • The vaccine mandate ended in January 2023 after Congressional intervention
  • Military faces ongoing recruitment and retention challenges
  • Trump’s nominee for Defense Secretary supports the reinstatement plan

Trump’s Promise to Discharged Service Members

Former President Donald Trump has made a bold commitment to reverse the consequences of the military’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate.

In an inauguration day speech, Trump pledged to reinstate service members who were discharged for refusing the vaccine, offering them full back pay and restoration of their ranks. This promise comes in the wake of a controversial policy that led to the separation of over 8,000 military personnel.

The vaccine mandate, implemented by Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin in 2021, resulted in high vaccination rates across the military branches. However, it also led to significant controversy and the loss of thousands of trained personnel. The Marine Corps was particularly affected, with 3,717 discharges reported.

The vaccine mandate was officially ended on January 10, 2023, after Congress intervened through the Fiscal Year 2023 National Defense Authorization Act. Subsequently, the Fiscal Year 2024 National Defense Authorization Act allowed discharged service members to correct their personnel files to ensure full retirement benefits. Despite these measures, many affected personnel are still awaiting reinstatement.

And Trump’s not the only one saying this will happen.

“Service members who were kicked out because of the experimental vaccine, they will be apologized to. They will be reinstituted with pay and rank,” Pete Hegseth, Trump’s nominee for Secretary of Defense, said.

Republican lawmakers have been vocal in their criticism of the separations, citing ongoing recruitment challenges faced by the military. The Reinstate Our Troops Act has been introduced to facilitate the return of discharged service members, while the Fiscal Year 2025 National Defense Authorization Act requires a strategy to recruit these individuals back into the military.

Meanwhile, the U.S. military continues to grapple with recruitment and retention issues. The Air Force, in particular, has missed recruitment goals and has been forced to reduce troop totals. Critics argue that the vaccine mandate exacerbated these challenges, while military leadership had defended the policy as necessary for maintaining readiness.

Let’s hope Trump can turn that around.