Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced the creation of a Pentagon task force aimed at reinstating military service members who were discharged after refusing the COVID-19 vaccine during the Biden administration.

Hegseth said the vaccine mandate imposed under former President Joe Biden was handled improperly and unfairly affected service members who sought religious or medical exemptions.

“Joe Biden's mandate to force military service members to take the covid 19 vaccine was wrongfully and unlawfully applied because the Biden Pentagon refused to grant exemptions for certain medical and faith reasons, not to mention it was an experimental vaccine,” Hegseth said.

According to Hegseth, the policy caused hardship for military families and damaged trust in the armed forces.

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“As a result, many service members and their families suffered severe hardship, and the department lost trust with the American people,” Hegseth said.

Hegseth referenced President Trump’s executive order addressing military personnel discharged over the vaccine mandate, saying President Trump viewed the policy as an unjust action against troops who had served the country honorably.

“President Trump's executive order on this topic stated that the military unjustly discharged those who refused the vaccine, regardless of their conscience or the years of service given to our nation,” Hegseth said.

“He called this what it is, an unfair, overly broad and completely unnecessary burden on our warriors,” Hegseth added.

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Hegseth said the Department of Defense under President Trump is committed to correcting what he described as a major injustice against troops who objected to the vaccine mandate.

“Under the leadership of President Trump, the war department is committed to doing everything we can to make it right,” Hegseth said.

He also praised service members who resisted the mandate on what he described as principled grounds.

“As you know, we want warriors of conscience, warriors who made a principled stand for truth,” Hegseth said. “We want them back in our ranks as soon as possible.”

Hegseth announced that the Pentagon is actively encouraging discharged service members to return to military service.

“We are welcoming back to serve as patriots who refused the covid 19 vaccine and were discharged for that reason,” Hegseth said.

He said former service members who choose to return will receive compensation and restored benefits.

“If that is you, and you still have the desire to once again wear the cloth of our nation, we are ready to reinstate you with back pay and with benefits,” Hegseth said.

Hegseth said he directed the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness to establish a department-wide COVID-19 reinstatement and reconciliation task force to oversee the effort across all branches of the military.

“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 said.

“The services have them right now. We're establishing one at our level to oversee the entire thing.”

According to Hegseth, the task force will focus on restoring personnel who want to continue serving while also helping discharged troops who do not plan to return.

“The Task Force's goal is to bring back into service all those who desire to continue to serve our country in uniform,” Hegseth said.

He said the department will also address unresolved administrative and financial issues connected to the discharges.

“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,” Hegseth said.

Hegseth also announced a broader review of Pentagon policies connected to the vaccine mandate to prevent similar situations in the future.

“Further, I have directed a review of policies and decision making to ensure that we do not go down this path again,” Hegseth said.

He closed by addressing affected service members directly and acknowledging their military service.

“You raised your right hand and swore an oath to serve and protect the Constitution and our nation,” Hegseth said.

“You were mistreated by the Biden Pentagon, and we are fixing that injustice.”

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