PULSE POINTS:
What Happened: Chief Pentagon Spokesman Sean Parnell announced a groundbreaking outreach program to reinstate approximately 8,700 service members discharged for rejecting the COVID-19 vaccine, offering them a clear path back to duty.
Who’s Involved: President Donald J. Trump, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Sean Parnell, and 8,700 affected veterans.
Where & When: Nationwide, starting April 7, 2025, with a reinstatement deadline of February 7, 2026.
Key Quote: “Their service mattered then, and it still matters now. We’re ready to welcome them back!” Parnell declared on X.
Impact: This reversal of Biden-era policy could rebuild trust with sidelined military families and bolster manpower.
IN FULL:
Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell has announced the Department of Defense is rolling out the red carpet for roughly 8,700 service members who were kicked to the curb by former President Joe Biden for refusing COVID-19 vaccines. “We’re committed to doing right by those who were affected by the Department’s former COVID-19 vaccination policy,” Parnell posted on X (formerly Twitter). “For the roughly 8,700 service members who were separated solely for refusing the vaccine, this is an opportunity to return to service—and we want them to know the door is open.”
The Pentagon is launching a full-court press to reach all affected veterans with “clear information on how to pursue reinstatement.” They have until February 7, 2026, to decide whether to return to service. Parnell assured the public that the Department is “working hard to make sure each of them receives clear information and support throughout the process.”
Parnell, a retired Army Ranger with a Purple Heart and a Trump loyalist, said of the dismissed veterans, “Their service mattered then, and it still matters now. We’re ready to welcome them back!”
The Trump administration’s policy flip undoes the Biden government’s vaccine mandate, which saw thousands of battle-tested troops discharged at a time when recruitment was already tanking.
READ:
We’re committed to doing right by those who were affected by the Department’s former COVID-19 vaccination policy. For the roughly 8,700 service members who were separated solely for refusing the vaccine, this is an opportunity to return to service-and we want them to know the…
— Sean Parnell (@SeanParnellATSD) April 7, 2025