President Donald Trump, in his inaugural address on Monday, January 20, 2025, pledged to reinstate military personnel who were discharged for refusing the COVID-19 vaccine, promising them full back pay and benefits.
Trump’s Promise
“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,” Trump declared during his speech at the U.S. Capitol. The announcement drew applause from supporters in attendance.The president emphasized his commitment to ending what he described as “radical political theories” and “social experiments” affecting the armed forces. “It’s going to end immediately. Our armed forces will be free to focus on their sole mission, defeating America’s enemies,” Trump stated.
Background on the Vaccine Mandate
From August 2021 to January 2023, the Department of Defense mandated COVID-19 vaccinations for all troops, with limited exceptions for medical issues or religious objections. Approximately 8,000 service members were discharged for refusing to comply with the order.
Congressional and Political Support
Trump’s announcement aligns with efforts by conservative lawmakers who have argued that the dismissals severely impacted force readiness. The AMERICANS Act, introduced by Senator Ted Cruz and Representative Pat Harrigan, aims to offer reinstatement and back pay to affected service members. Senator Cruz stated, “Our military is still dealing with the consequences of the Biden administration’s wrongful COVID-19 vaccine mandate. The AMERICANS Act would provide remedies for servicemembers whom the Biden Department of Defense punished for standing by their convictions. It’s the right thing to do.”
Pentagon Response
The Pentagon issued a statement on Monday, affirming its commitment to carrying out the new president’s directives: “The Department of Defense is fully committed to carrying out the orders from our [commander in chief], and is doing so immediately under his leadership.”
Trump’s statement follows similar comments by his defense secretary pick, former Fox News host Pete Hegseth, during a Senate hearing last week.
Hegseth stated that “tens of thousands of service members were kicked out because of an experimental vaccine” and promised that those individuals would be “apologized to” and reinstated into the military.
Potential Impact and Criticism
While Trump and his supporters argue that this move will strengthen the military, critics have raised concerns about the potential impact on military readiness and the precedent it sets for following lawful orders. As the administration moves forward with this policy, it remains to be seen how many of the discharged service members will choose to return to active duty and what long-term effects this decision may have on military operations and morale.
Leaders in the Defense Department ordered all soldiers to get the COVID-19 vaccine between August 2021 and January 2023, with few exceptions for religious or medical reasons. About 8,000 soldiers who disobeyed the order were ejected from the military.