Staff Reports
Trump has swung into action, signing an executive order that seeks to reinstate service members purged under the Biden administration due to the COVID vaccine mandate—an order that many have branded as nothing short of a political circus. Lawyers who have tussled with the government on behalf of the affected military personnel are lauding the move as a step in the right direction, but they also stress that this is just the tip of the accountability iceberg. After all, one might ask, who holds the Pentagon accountable for its rapid-fire decisions?
According to legal representatives for those booted out of the service, the vaccine mandate was not just misguided but outright illegal. These lawyers have noted that a significant number of military personnel were denied religious exemptions, leading to the conclusion that the vaccine push was much less about public health and far more about politics. In their view, Trump’s order is a glimmer of hope for these service members, but a more comprehensive strategy must be unveiled to prevent similar mandates from materializing in the future—especially with elections looming on the horizon.
Reinstating military members over COVID vax mandate is 'good,' accountability still needed: lawyers https://t.co/8N2kaxux06
— John Solomon (@jsolomonReports) January 30, 2025
Late on a recent Monday, the former president’s signature enabled reinstatement for those service members who stood their ground and refused the jab. It’s almost comical that the initial mandate, which started making waves during the late summer of 2021, was rescinded only after Congress stepped in, pushing the NDAA through in early 2023. One has to wonder whether the Biden administration even thought this mandate would fly without serious backlash—spoiler alert: it didn’t.
Trump highlighted the absurdity of the situation in his executive order by calling the mandate an “unfair, overbroad, and completely unnecessary burden.” This statement should resonate with anyone who’s watched the military health system take hit after hit, all while healthy service members were shown the door. It’s a twist of irony that the same Pentagon that once sought to enforce a uniform vaccination policy now finds itself needing to backtrack for the sake of service members’ livelihoods and morale.
Notwithstanding this newfound path to reinstatement, there are still lingering issues to address. As military lawyer R. Davis Younts pointed out, some active-duty members remain in limbo, having been overlooked for promotions due to their refusal to comply with the mandate. Imagine dedicating years of your life to service only to be told you’ve lost out on career opportunities because you stood up for your convictions. While Younts celebrates the reinstatement as a “really, really good first step,” he warns that the real work lies in mending the damages inflicted on those still in service.
Ultimately, while some may praise the executive order as a win for justice, it’s clear that the fallout from the vaccine mandate could have lasting ramifications on military trust and recruitment. With an estimated 41,000 missing recruits in 2023, the Pentagon might soon find that draconian policies don’t just hurt individual service members—they might also hinder the entire framework of military readiness. As citizens keenly watch—and analyze—the unfolding drama, it becomes clear that accountability for the mandate’s architects is still very much on the agenda.
