President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Monday directing the Department of Defense and the Department of Homeland Security to take action to reinstate military service members discharged for refusing to receive the Covid-19 vaccine. The order comes as a redress for what the President described as an “unfair, overbroad, and completely unnecessary burden” placed on service members during the vaccine mandate.
On Aug. 24, 2021, the Secretary of Defense mandated that all service members receive the Covid vaccine in response to the global pandemic. The mandate was later rescinded on Jan. 10, 2023, following significant debate over its impact on service members and readiness.
The executive order outlines measures to rectify what the administration acknowledges as wrongful dismissals, stating that many service members were discharged unjustly after being denied exemptions they should have received.
The order includes the following provisions:
- Reinstatement: Service members discharged solely for refusing the vaccine can request reinstatement.
- Restoration of Rank and Benefits: Reinstated personnel will return to their previous rank and receive full back pay, benefits, and other compensatory payments.
- Return for Voluntary Separations: Those who voluntarily left service rather than comply with the mandate can submit sworn attestations and return to duty without penalty to their rank, pay, or status.
The President’s order also requires the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Homeland Security to report on the progress of these initiatives within 60 days.
“Service members who dedicated years to defending our nation deserve fair treatment and an opportunity to restore their careers,” Trump said in a statement. “This order ensures justice for those who were wrongly dismissed under the previous mandate.”
The order does not preclude disciplinary action for conduct under the Uniform Code of Military Justice. However, it emphasizes the administration’s commitment to rectifying grievances tied specifically to the vaccine mandate.
Critics of the initial mandate have long argued that it unfairly punished service members who objected to vaccination on personal or religious grounds. Supporters of the mandate, however, maintain it was a necessary public health measure to ensure operational readiness.
With this executive order, the administration seeks to address lingering concerns among military personnel and veterans while reinforcing the principle of fairness within the armed forces.
The order negates the need for a bill that was introduced in the House last week that would have effectively done the same thing though legislation, rather than executive order.
Well it’s about time. Thank you President Trump.
Promises Made, Promises Kept. This will indeed improve the morale of the military. Thank you
Excellent news. I hope they will be given a bit of a grace period to get back in optimal condition (if necessary).
I’m puzzled why give the order which is part time, rather than let the bill go through congress and he signs it into law which puts it in stone?
Did the order to kick them out of the military go through Congress?
Doubt it.
So, what makes you think it requires a Congressional action to reinstate them?
I’m confused how awarding 4 years of back pay in a lump sum to 8,000 service members who were discharged for refusing to get vaccinated is good for the morale of the other 99% of troops who spent the last 4 years working their asses off on active duty for that same pay. I thought he promised to cut expenses not amplify them?
Sebastian; so you’re against any sort of reparations? Should all the American Japanese families who were interned and had all their possessions confiscated returned to the United states?
Are you really this dense and petty?
TK, trying to understand you second sentence. What are trying to say? That grammar is expected in middle school! On second thought that might be advanced prose for a right wing misinformation site.
Sebastian; so you support reparations only if it makes you look good.
Sebastian is not opposed to reparations in any way. As a leftist, he is very interested in taking money from others for his own wants. Especially if it makes him feel good, or look kind and benevolent.
The tide is turning – now if we can only get some legal justice for those who were libeled, maligned and censored by social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter and the mainstream media for refusing to inject themselves with an experimental MRNA vaccine!
Given that the Covid so-called “vaccines” are neither safe nor effective, and are now well-proven to be highly dangerous as well, Trump should be having the federal government actively working to prevent their continued use. But, Big Pharma needs its profits!
THOSE are the men I want defending this country. They are the ONLY ones in the military that truly understand what they are defending. BRAVO President Trump!