Military members discharged for not getting COVID-19 are getting a reprieve, thanks to an executive order by President Donald Trump.
Trump signed the order that reinstates service members who refused to get the vaccines, per Fox News.
“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,” the White House stated.
Those service members will retain their rank and will receive back pay and benefits, per the White House.
The Biden administration discharged more than 8,000 troops from 2021 to 2023 because of their refusal to get the shot.
“After the vaccine mandate was repealed in 2023, only 43 of the more than the 8,000 troops dismissed elected to return to service under the Biden Administration and Secretary (Lloyd) Austin,” the White House said.
The measure is not a surprise as Trump promised to do so in his inauguration speech 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,” Trump said Jan. 20.
Trump also campaigned on the issue last year, saying those service members would receive back pay in addition to an apology from the government.
