President Trump To Sign Executive Order Fulfilling Campaign Promise To Troops Removed From Military For Rejecting COVID-19 Jab

President Trump is expected to sign an executive order reinstating U.S. service members removed from the military for rejecting the experimental COVID-19 shot.

“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,” a White House fact sheet said, according to Fox News.

According to the New York Post, the order would bring back over 8,000 discharged members of the U.S. military.

The order would restore them to their previous rank and provide back pay and full benefits.

WATCH:

President Trump will sign an executive order to reinstate service members who were kicked out of the military for refusing COVID-19 vaccines. Those reinstated will be provided back pay and benefits, according to the White House. | @pdoocy pic.twitter.com/WeoQQ5TFd7

— Fox News (@FoxNews) January 27, 2025

Per Fox News:

During his inauguration speech, Trump pledged to make the move.

“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 declared during remarks on Jan. 20.

During a campaign speech last year, Trump promised to rehire service members who were dismissed over the COVID-19 vaccine mandate, saying they would get back pay plus an apology from the government.

“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 said, according to Fox News.

“After the vaccine mandate was repealed in 2023, only 43 of the more than the 8,000 troops dismissed elected to return to service under the Biden Administration and Secretary Austin,” it added.

“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 executive order will be signed TODAY! pic.twitter.com/QFGRjXQbMu

— ProudArmyBrat (@leslibless) January 27, 2025

From the New York Post:

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth made the same pledge during his confirmation hearings earlier this month, saying that he stood by the president’s promise that each discharged troop “will receive an apology, back pay and rank that they lost.”

“Today there are more executive orders coming that we fully support — on removing DEI inside the Pentagon, reinstating troops who were pushed out because of COVID mandates, Iron Dome of America,” Hegseth told reporters outside the Pentagon Monday morning.

“This is happening quickly, and as the secretary of defense, it’s an honor to salute smartly … [and] to ensure these orders are complied with,” he added.