Department of War Secretary Pete Hegseth announced that the Department is extending its invitation to reinstate service members who were separated under the Biden administration for refusing to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.
“While I am proud of our efforts over the past year, our obligations to make things right are not yet complete,” Hegseth said in a video. “I am therefore extending the application of the department’s reinstatement and return to service guidance established last April.” He added that the change “reflects our confidence that returning [service] members will make an immediate and positive impact and aligns our reinstatement policy with the needs of both the service members and the military services.”
“Given this policy modification, and to ensure that everyone whose career was cut short under the COVID-19 vaccine mandate receives the respect they deserve, I direct the secretaries of the military departments — the Army, the Navy and the Air Force — within 60 days, to once again recontact those who have not rejoined already and inform them of this new information and this new opportunity,” the secretary said.
Hegseth declared that it is the DOW’s commitment to “right the wrongs and correct the injustices of the Biden administration.”
In 2025, President Trump signed an executive order directing officials to “make reinstatement available to all members of the military (active and reserve) who were discharged solely for refusal to receive the COVID-19 vaccine and who request to be reinstated.” The order also allows those reinstated to “revert to their former rank and receive full back pay, benefits, bonus payments, or compensation.”
