Troops forced out over the COVID-19 vaccine may soon see a dramatic change as War Secretary Pete Hegseth — even for those who do not wish to return to military service.
Hegseth announced the change in a video posted to X on Friday afternoon, saying that he planned to restore missed payments and enlistment bonuses — as well as benefits denied based on unfavorable discharge characterizations.
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The Biden administration’s experimental COVID-19 vaccine mandate was wrongfully forced onto our warfighters.
It was unjust, and we are doing EVERYTHING we can to make it right. pic.twitter.com/xLWpYd0sMc
— Secretary of War Pete Hegseth (@SecWar) May 8, 2026
“I’m directing the Under Secretary of War for Personnel and Readiness to establish a Department of War COVID-19 reinstatement and Reconciliation Task Force,” Hegseth explained, noting that their first move would be to assist anyone who wanted to return to military service to do so. “The services have them right now. We’re establishing one at our level to oversee the entire thing. The task force’s goal is to bring back into service all those who desire to continue to serve our country in uniform.”
But Then Hegseth went on to say that changes were also coming for those who were discharged for refusing the COVID vaccine mandate under former President Joe Biden and opted not to put the uniform back on. Those who were denied education benefits due to a “general” discharge, Hegseth vowed, would have them restored.
“Even if you do not intend to return to service, the War Department will provide a path for resolution of unearned bonuses, upgrades to discharge characterizations that will unlock your well-deserved benefits, and removal of adverse documents from service files,” he said. “Further, I have directed a review of policies and decision-making to ensure that we do not go down this path again. You raised your right hand and sworn ill to serve and protect the Constitution and our nation.”
“You were mistreated by the Biden Pentagon, and we are fixing that injustice,” Hegseth concluded.
Between August of 2021 and the beginning of 2023, approximately 8,700 service members were forced out over Biden’s vaccine mandate — and more than one third of them (3,000) received “general” discharges rather than “honorable” discharges. Still more, because they were forced to separate prior to fulfilling their contracts, were denied promised enlistment bonuses and pay.
Typically those who receive a “general” discharge from military service are eligible to receive disability benefits and health care benefits through the VA, but can be denied access to education benefits through the post-9/11 G.I. Bill.
By March of 2026, some 600 Air Force members had already had their discharges upgraded. The Marine Corps and the Navy had the highest number of separations due to the vaccine mandate.
