Trump to reinstate service members discharged for not getting COVID-19 vaccine

President Donald Trump will sign an executive order to reinstate service members booted from the military who declined to get COVID-19 vaccine jabs, according to the White House.

“The Executive Order directs the Secretary of Defense to reinstate all members of the military (active and reserve) who were discharged for refusing the COVID vaccine and who request to be reinstated,” according to the White House fact sheet.

Those reinstated will be restored to their prior rank, and will be provided back pay and benefits, according to the fact sheet.

TROOPS DISCHARGED FOR REFFUSAL OF COVID-19 VACCINE NOW HAVE A PATHWAY TO REJOIN THE MILITARY

 President Donald Trump signs executive orders in the Oval Office on January 20, 2025, in Washington, DC. Trump takes office for his second term as the 47th president of the United States. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

“From 2021 to 2023, the Biden Administration and former Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin discharged over 8,000 troops solely due to their COVID-19 vaccination status,” the fact sheet notes. “After the vaccine mandate was repealed in 2023, only 43 of the more than the 8,000 troops dismissed elected to return to service under the Biden Administration and Secretary Austin.”

SERVICE MEMBERS WHO REFUSED THE COVID ‘JAB’ WOULD GET THEIR JOBS BACK AND BACK PAY, TOO, UNDER NEW GOP BILL

During his inauguration speech, Trump had pledged to make the move, though he had indicated he would do it last week.

“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,” the president said during his remarks on Jan. 20.

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This is a breaking news story and will be updated