During his confirmation hearing on Tuesday, Defense Secretary nominee Pete Hegseth made a commitment to reinstate and provide compensation to military personnel who were discharged for refusing to receive the COVID-19 vaccine in the past.
During an interview, Hegseth made a surprising statement that was unrelated to the questions about his views on diversity and discrimination policies in the military. Hegseth, a former National Guard member, expressed his belief that the previous Pentagon policies mandating the vaccine could be seen as a form of religious discrimination.
According to Hegseth, tens of thousands of service members were discharged due to an experimental vaccine. He asserts that these individuals deserve an apology and should be reinstated with their pay and rank.
RELATED
This Article Includes
Department health officials have recorded about 67,000 new cases of COVID-19 among patients in 2024.
From August 2021 to January 2023, Defense Department leaders made it mandatory for all troops to receive the COVID-19 vaccine, except for those with medical issues or religious objections. As a result, approximately 8,000 troops were discharged for refusing to follow the order.
In the years following the lifting of the mandate, conservative lawmakers have criticized Defense Department officials for the dismissals, arguing that they have had a significant impact on force readiness. These lawmakers believe that the individuals who were discharged should be given the opportunity to return to their military positions. It is worth noting, however, that the number of dismissals represents less than half of 1% of the total military end strength.
According to statistics from the Defense Department, after the vaccine mandate was lifted, Pentagon leaders introduced procedures that allowed individuals to reapply for military service. However, only a few dozen individuals decided to pursue the program.
If Hegseth’s proposal is implemented, it could have significant financial implications for the military. The cost of providing back pay alone could reach into the hundreds of millions of dollars. Additionally, it remains uncertain whether those who were previously discharged from the military would be willing to leave their current positions and return to service.
The Pentagon leadership’s formal apology, on the other hand, wouldn’t require any taxpayer funds. However, it could potentially anger certain advocacy groups who emphasize that the troops violated direct orders by refusing the vaccines.
Military personnel are obligated to receive over a dozen vaccines as part of their standard onboarding procedure. However, the COVID-19 vaccine sparked controversy for several reasons, including the expedited development process during the final term of President-elect Donald Trump’s tenure in office.
According to Veterans Affairs officials, COVID-19 continues to pose a significant public health risk, even years after the peak of the global pandemic. They have reported that thousands of cases still require treatment every month.
According to the World Health Organization, the virus has caused over 7 million deaths worldwide due to its complications.
Senators are set to vote on Hegseth’s nomination in the coming days.