President Trump is set to sign an executive order on Monday that will reinstate thousands of U.S. service members who were discharged for refusing the COVID-19 vaccine, a White House official confirmed to The Post.
Fulfilling a 2024 campaign promise, Trump plans to reinstate more than 8,000 service members, restoring their previous rank while providing back pay and full benefits.
The order applies to active-duty and reserve service members discharged between 2021 and 2023 due to the vaccine mandate imposed during the Biden administration.
According to the White House, only 43 of the approximately 8,000 affected service members returned to duty after the Biden administration lifted the mandate.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth affirmed the plan during his recent confirmation hearings, stating that the administration is committed to rectifying the situation. “Each discharged troop will receive an apology, back pay, and the rank that they lost,” Hegseth said.
