Secretary of Defense Hegseth Welcomes Back Troops Discharged Over COVID Jab Mandate
In a major reversal of one of the most controversial policies of the Biden-era Pentagon, U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth welcomed back service members who were previously discharged for refusing the COVID-19 vaccine. The announcement was accompanied by a provision that these individuals will receive full back pay for their time away from the military—an acknowledgment many see as long overdue.
The Department of Defense (DoD) officially rescinded the COVID-19 vaccine mandate earlier this year, but Hegseth’s announcement marks the first time the Pentagon has directly addressed the thousands of service members pushed out for standing by their personal convictions.
AMAZING! 🇺🇸 @PeteHegseth welcomes back service members with back pay who were discharged for refusing the vaccine:
"If you are a person of conscience, a person of faith who believed you shouldn’t have to take an experimental vaccine in order to serve in our military, we will… pic.twitter.com/FszdwOIJKe
— Trump War Room (@TrumpWarRoom) April 10, 2025
Speaking at a press conference at the Pentagon on Monday, Hegseth said, “These men and women made a choice they believed was right—guided by their conscience, their faith, or their understanding of science—and they should never have been punished for that. Today, we’re correcting that mistake.”
The decision affects over 8,000 service members across all branches who were either separated, disciplined, or denied promotions for declining the experimental shot. Hegseth’s remarks were broadcast in a video released by the Pentagon, showing uniformed personnel applauding the move.
The reversal comes after mounting pressure from veterans’ groups, lawmakers, and public opinion, particularly among conservative constituencies who viewed the original mandate as both authoritarian and un-American. During the Biden administration, thousands were forced out despite years—or even decades—of service, often without full benefits or the ability to appeal their separation.
Under the new directive, those discharged will be contacted and offered reinstatement into the armed forces at their previous rank. They will also receive full back pay from the date of separation. The Pentagon is also providing an expedited reinstatement process and assistance with relocation and benefits reinstatement.
Critics of the original mandate see this as a vindication of the stand many service members took. “This never should have happened,” said retired Marine Corps Gunnery Sgt. Dave Martinez, who was discharged after 14 years of service. “I lost my pension, my health care, and my dignity because I wouldn’t take an untested shot. Now I’m finally getting justice.”
The Biden-era policy mandating COVID-19 vaccines sparked intense backlash, with many viewing it as a political litmus test rather than a legitimate public health measure. Hegseth’s reversal of the policy aligns with campaign promises made by President Donald Trump during his 2024 campaign and follows executive orders issued during his second term to reinstate wrongly discharged service members.
According to the Department of Defense, the reinstatement initiative is not only a moral correction but also a readiness decision. With military recruitment struggling under the Biden administration’s woke policies, bringing back trained, experienced personnel is seen as essential.
Defense officials confirmed that the DoD is working closely with veterans’ affairs offices and legal aid organizations to ensure a smooth reintegration process. Secretary Hegseth emphasized that no further mandates of this kind will be imposed under his leadership, noting that “medical freedom is not a privilege—it is a constitutional right.”
Federal records show that a significant number of those discharged were decorated combat veterans and career non-commissioned officers. “These are the backbone of our military,” one senior defense official told Federal News Network. “We lost a generation of leadership for political reasons. That ends now.”
The Biden administration’s silence on this reversal has only underscored the political nature of the original policy. Despite calls for accountability, no senior defense officials under Biden have been reprimanded for enforcing the mandate that led to mass discharges.
For many within the armed forces, the reinstatement and back pay are just the beginning. Lawsuits and congressional hearings are expected as more details emerge about the coercion tactics used during the height of the mandate’s enforcement.
As Hegseth concluded his press conference, he stated, “Our military is stronger when it honors personal liberty. We’re proud to welcome these warriors home—and proud to restore what should never have been taken from them.”
The move is being hailed by conservative leaders as a return to American values within the military and a rebuke of the far-left bureaucratic overreach that characterized Biden’s Pentagon. As one Army veteran put it, “This is what leadership looks like.”
