Trump vows to reinstate troops discharged for refusing COVID-19 vaccinations

01/23/2025 / By Ava Grace

President Donald Trump announced plans to reinstate thousands of military personnel discharged for refusing the COVID-19 vaccine, offering full back pay and restored rank.
Trump pledged to prevent military personnel from being subjected to “radical political theories and social experiments” while on duty.
The COVID-19 vaccine mandate, imposed under President Biden, led to over 8,000 discharges, sparking controversy over military readiness and individual rights.
The mandate was rescinded in 2023, but discharged personnel were not automatically reinstated, leaving many veterans in limbo.
Trump’s Defense Secretary nominee, Pete Hegseth, supports reinstating discharged troops, calling their removal unjust and emphasizing the need for accountability.

President Donald Trump announced that he would reinstate thousands of military personnel who were discharged for refusing the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine.

During his inauguration, Trump declared, “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.”

He also pledged to sign an order to prevent military personnel from being subjected to what he called “radical political theories and social experiments” while on duty.

“Our armed forces will be freed to focus on their sole mission: defeating America’s enemies,” Trump emphasized. (Related: Trump’s unprecedented military reform: Bringing back the “unvaxxed” troops.)

The COVID-19 vaccine mandate, imposed under former President Joe Biden in 2021, required all military personnel to receive the vaccine or face discharge. While the mandate was intended to protect troops from the virus, it sparked widespread controversy.

Over 16,000 service members requested religious or medical exemptions, but the vast majority were denied. As a result, more than 8,000 troops were discharged for refusing the vaccine, a decision that critics argue undermined military readiness and violated individual rights.

The mandate was eventually rescinded in 2023 following bipartisan legislation passed by Congress and signed by Biden. However, the law did not automatically reinstate discharged personnel, leaving thousands of veterans in limbo. Trump’s announcement seeks to correct this injustice by ensuring that these service members are welcomed back into the military with full back pay, restored rank and even apologies for the treatment they endured.

Reinstatement of discharged service members a vindication

The mandate paved over the legitimate concerns many service members had about the COVID-19 vaccine, including its rapid development, potential side effects and the conflicts taking the vaccine would have with their religious beliefs.

Moreover, the mandate’s implementation was marred by bureaucratic failures. Multiple courts found that the military violated federal law in processing religious exemption requests, and a federal watchdog concluded that several branches mishandled exemption applications. These findings underscore the need for accountability and reform within the military’s leadership.

Trump’s nominee for Defense Secretary, Pete Hegseth, has been a vocal advocate for reinstating discharged troops. During his confirmation hearings, Hegseth emphasized that these service members were “forced out due to an experimental vaccine” and deserved to be reinstated with their honor intact.

Critics of the reinstatement plan argue that it could undermine military discipline and set a dangerous precedent. They also point to the potential financial burden of providing back pay to the discharged service members.

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Watch this clip featuring U.S. Army Surgeon Lt. Col. Theresa Long warning about how “dangerous” and “deadly” the military’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate is.

This video is from the GalacticStorm channel on Brighteon.com.