(Press Release) U.S. Senator Tim Sheehy introduced the COVID-19 Military Backpay Act of 2025, restoring compensation for thousands of servicemembers who were wrongfully discharged under the Biden administration’s COVID vaccine mandate.
“Under the Biden administration, thousands of American warfighters were unceremoniously – and without due process – discharged from the military for refusing to comply with Joe Biden’s vaccine mandate.”
“This unacceptable action by the last administration robbed servicemembers of the pay and benefits they rightfully earned in service to our country.”
“My legislation will right this wrong by building on President Trump’s Executive Order to reinstate those servicemembers, ensuring we fulfill our government’s sacred obligations to the men and women who put their lives on the line in defense of our freedoms,” said Senator Sheehy.
Background:
Following the Biden Administration’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate for military service members, nearly 8,500 active-duty service members were discharged for non-compliance with the mandate.
From the Army Reserve and National Guard alone, 60,000 patriotic service members were barred from service and denied pay and benefits.
All told, roughly 100,000 service members and their families were adversely impacted by the vaccine mandate.
These service members were denied pay, benefits, and retirement accrual – unjustly disrupting their lives and their families’ lives.
While the courts ultimately determined the mandate was illegal and Congress officially repealed it in the FY 2023 NDAA, many service members have faced an uphill battle to receive the compensation they deserve.
This bill provides for the prompt and efficient processing of claims by uniformed service members adversely affected by Biden’s vaccine mandate by providing backpay and other entitlements under the Military Pay Act.
This relief would only apply to affected servicemembers who voluntarily opt in to the claims process and meet the requirements for having a claim under this Act.
This relief is in addition to any relief provided under President Trump’s executive order Reinstating Service Members Discharged Under the Military’s COVID-19 Vaccination Mandate.
Read the full text of the bill HERE.
COVID-19 Military Backpay Act of 2025 (pdf)
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