Pete Hegseth vows to reinstate members of the military discharged for refusing COVID-19 vaccinations

01/18/2025 / By Arsenio Toledo

Defense Secretary nominee Pete Hegseth pledged to reinstate thousands of military personnel discharged for refusing COVID-19 vaccines, restoring their ranks and providing back pay, aligning with President-elect Donald Trump’s campaign promises.
Over 8,400 troops were discharged under the Pentagon’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate, with the Marine Corps experiencing the highest number of dismissals at 3,717 troops discharged.
Hegseth’s plan could cost hundreds of millions in back pay, with uncertainty about how many discharged personnel would return to service after years in civilian life.
Critics warn the plan could undermine military discipline and set a precedent for future vaccine mandates, while supporters see it as correcting Pentagon overreach.

During his Senate confirmation hearing on Tuesday, Jan. 14, Defense Secretary nominee Pete Hegseth vowed to reinstate the thousands of military personnel discharged for refusing the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccines.

Hegseth said he would reinstate these military personnel, restore their previous ranks and give them back pay for the months or years they lost – a proposal that aligns with President-elect Donald Trump’s campaign promises. (Related: The DEMOCRAT DIE-OFF is coming thanks to mass COVID-19 vaccination.)

Hegseth, a former National Guard officer and conservative commentator, made the commitment under questioning from Sen. Jim Banks (R-IN), who asked whether he would “recruit these folks back” with full compensation.

“I will commit to this because the Commander in Chief has committed to this,” Hegseth responded. “Not only will they be reinstated, they will receive an apology, back pay and rank that they lost because they were forced out due to an experimental vaccine.”

The Pentagon’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate, implemented in August 2021 under Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, required all service members to receive the vaccine with limited exemptions for medical or religious reasons.

By the time the mandate was rescinded in January 2023, more than 8,400 troops had been discharged for refusing the order. The Marine Corps, the smallest branch of the military, bore the brunt of the separations, with 3,717 Marines dismissed. The Navy, Army and Air Force discharged 2,041, 1,841,and 834 personnel, respectively.

While the mandate was in effect, Pentagon officials defended it as a lawful order critical to maintaining military readiness and protecting the health of the armed forces.

At the time, vaccination rates among active-duty personnel exceeded 98 percent in most branches, with slightly lower rates in the National Guard and reserve units. Critics, however, argued that the policy was overly punitive and exacerbated recruitment challenges at a time when the military was already struggling to meet its enlistment goals.

Critics warn of implications of Hegseth’s mass reinstatement plan

If confirmed, Hegseth’s plan to reinstate discharged troops could have significant financial and logistical implications. Back pay alone could cost hundreds of millions of dollars, and it remains unclear how many of the affected individuals would be willing or able to return to military service after years in civilian life.

Pentagon leaders previously established a process for discharged personnel to reapply for service after the mandate was lifted, but only a few dozen pursued the opportunity, according to Defense Department statistics.

The proposal also raises questions about military discipline and the precedent it sets for future vaccine mandates. Military personnel are required to receive more than a dozen vaccines as part of their standard onboarding process, but the COVID-19 mandate became uniquely contentious due to its timing and the politicization of the pandemic.

Hegseth’s nomination, which is expected to be voted on by the Senate in the coming days, has drawn both praise and criticism. Supporters view his pledge as a necessary corrective to what they see as an overreach by Pentagon leadership, while opponents argue it undermines the principle of following lawful orders.

As the military continues to grapple with recruitment shortfalls and evolving public health challenges, Hegseth’s promise underscores the enduring impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on U.S. defense policy.

Whether his plan will bolster military readiness or deepen divisions within the ranks remains to be seen. For now, it serves as a reminder of the complex interplay between public health, politics and the demands of military service in an increasingly polarized nation.

Watch this episode of “Brighteon Broadcast News” as Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, discusses the results of Congress’ investigation into COVID-19 pandemic policies.

This video is from the Health Ranger Report channel on Brighteon.com.