President Donald Trump will sign an executive order to reinstate service members booted from the military for declining to get COVID-19 vaccine jabs, according to the White House.
“The Executive Order directs the Secretary of Defense to reinstate all members of the military (active and reserve) who were discharged for refusing the COVID vaccine and who request to be reinstated,” according to the White House fact sheet.
The service members who are reinstated will be restored to their prior rank, and will be provided back pay and benefits, according to the fact sheet.
TROOPS DISCHARGED FOR REFUSAL OF COVID-19 VACCINE NOW HAVE A PATHWAY TO REJOIN THE MILITARY
President Donald Trump signs executive orders in the Oval Office on Jan. 20, 2025, in Washington, D.C. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
“From 2021 to 2023, the Biden Administration and former Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin discharged over 8,000 troops solely due to their COVID-19 vaccination status,” the fact sheet notes. “After the vaccine mandate was repealed in 2023, only 43 of the more than the 8,000 troops dismissed elected to return to service under the Biden Administration and Secretary Austin.”
During his inauguration speech, Trump pledged to make the move.
A healthcare worker prepares to administer a Pfizer/BioNTEch coronavirus disease vaccine at The Michener Institute, in Toronto, Ontario on Dec. 14, 2020. (CARLOS OSORIO/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
“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,” the president declared during remarks on Jan. 20.
During a campaign speech last year, Trump promised to rehire service members who were dismissed over the COVID-19 vaccine mandate, saying they would get back pay plus an apology from the government.
The newly inaugurated president has been signing a bevy of orders since taking office last week.
RILEY GAINES CELEBRATES REPEAL OF COVID VACCINATION MANDATE FOR LEGAL IMMIGRANTS
President Donald Trump after signing executive orders in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, D.C., on Thursday, Jan. 23, 2025 (Yuri Gripas/Abaca/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
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Monday afternoon will mark the end of his first full week back in office since his inauguration.