President Donald Trump is making good on a key campaign promise by signing an executive order to reinstate military service members who were discharged for refusing the COVID-19 vaccine. The White House confirmed the move on Monday, noting that the order will allow former troops to return to their prior rank and receive full back pay and benefits. This bold move signals the administration’s intent to right what it views as a grave injustice committed under the Biden administration.
According to a White House fact sheet, the executive order directs the Secretary of Defense to offer reinstatement to all active and reserve members who were discharged due to their COVID-19 vaccination status, provided they request to return to service.
This order underscores Trump’s commitment to the men and women in uniform who faced termination for standing by their personal and medical convictions during the Biden administration’s vaccine mandate.
The numbers tell the story. From 2021 to 2023, more than 8,000 troops were discharged under the vaccine mandate implemented by then-Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin. When the mandate was repealed in 2023—following widespread criticism and bipartisan opposition—only 43 of those dismissed service members chose to return under Biden’s leadership. Trump’s executive order aims to repair the damage caused by these policies and restore trust within the armed forces.
“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 vowed during his inauguration remarks on January 20. His words echoed a promise he made during a campaign speech last year, in which he pledged not only reinstatement and back pay but also an apology from the government to those affected.
Trump’s decisive action reflects his broader commitment to reversing what his administration sees as the damaging policies of his predecessor. Critics of the Biden administration’s vaccine mandate argued that it weakened military readiness, morale, and recruitment efforts at a time when global threats and domestic challenges demanded a strong and united military. By reinstating these service members, Trump is not only addressing the grievances of those impacted but also taking steps to bolster the ranks of the military at a critical time.
Since returning to office, Trump has wasted no time implementing a flurry of executive orders aimed at restoring American strength and sovereignty. This latest action, signed less than a week into his second term, sends a clear message: the administration prioritizes fairness, readiness, and respect for the individual liberties of those who serve the nation.
The decision has been met with widespread support among conservatives and military advocates, many of whom view the reinstatement as a long-overdue correction. Critics of the mandate have long argued that it punished troops unnecessarily, sidelining thousands of trained professionals who were ready and willing to serve.
Opposition to the vaccine mandate gained steam in 2023, when public pressure forced Congress to repeal the requirement. But the Biden administration’s lukewarm response to reinstating discharged service members left many feeling betrayed. Trump’s action, by contrast, restores both their dignity and the financial compensation they were denied.
