Trump promises to bring back troops booted for refusing COVID vaccine
By Leo Shane III
Jan 20, 2025, 01:03 PM
Just minutes after returning to office Monday, President Donald Trump vowed to reinstate more than 8,000 troops dismissed from military service for refusing to take the COVID-19 vaccine, promising them back pay that could cost the federal government hundreds of millions of dollars.
The promise, which Trump said will happen sometime this week, came amid a host of military policy priorities for the new administration outlined in Trump’s inauguration speech. He also pledged to rebuild the military and avoid unnecessary wars during his term in office.
“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, drawing applause from a crowd of supporters crowded into the U.S. Capitol for ceremonies. “And I will sign an order to stop our warriors from being subjected to radical political theories and social experiments while on duty.”
Trump’s statement follows similar comments by his defense secretary pick, former Fox News host Pete Hegseth, during a Senate hearing last week.
https://www.militarytimes.com/news/pentagon-congress/2025/01/20/trump-promises-to-bring-back-troops-booted-for-refusing-covid-vaccine/
