In a significant move aimed at rectifying what he called an “unfair and unnecessary burden” on U.S. service members, President Donald J. Trump signed an executive order today to reinstate military personnel who were discharged solely for refusing the COVID-19 vaccine.
The order, titled “Reinstating Service Members Discharged Under the Military’s COVID-19 Vaccination Mandate,” seeks to restore rank, pay, and benefits to those affected while addressing what the administration describes as wrongful dismissals.
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The executive order highlights the Department of Defense’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate, which was implemented on August 24, 2021, and later rescinded on January 10, 2023. President Trump criticized the mandate as “overbroad” and unjust, particularly for service members who were discharged despite years of dedicated service and without proper consideration of exemption requests.
“The vaccine mandate was an unfair, overbroad, and completely unnecessary burden on our service members,” the order states. “Federal Government redress of any wrongful dismissals is overdue.”
The executive order directs the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Homeland Security to take the following actions:
- Reinstatement: Make reinstatement available to all military personnel—active and reserve—who were discharged solely for refusing the COVID-19 vaccine and who request to return to service.
- Restoration of Rank and Benefits: Ensure that reinstated service members revert to their former rank and receive full back pay, benefits, bonus payments, or other compensation.
- Voluntary Separation Redress: Allow service members who voluntarily left the military or allowed their service to lapse due to the vaccine mandate to return with no impact on their service status, rank, or pay, provided they submit a written and sworn attestation.
The order also emphasizes that reinstatement does not preclude disciplinary or administrative action for conduct violations under the Uniform Code of Military Justice.
Within 60 days, the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Homeland Security are required to report to the President on their progress in implementing the order. The directive is to be carried out in accordance with applicable laws and subject to the availability of appropriations.
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