DHS Reinstates 56 Coast Guard Members Dismissed Under COVID Rule
Fifty-six Coast Guard members will be reinstated with back pay under President Trump's Jan. 27, 2025 executive order reversing COVID-related discharges.
FOX NewsCoast Guard reinstates 56 members previously dismissed for refusing COVID vaccines under Biden administration
PJ MediaBiden Kicked Them Out of the Coast Guard Over ‘The Vaccine.’ Trump Reinstated Them.
NewsmaxCoast Guard Restores 56 Dismissed Under 'Unconstitutional' Biden COVID Rule
Just the NewsDHS reinstates 56 Coast Guard members dismissed for declining to get COVID vaccines
Overview
A three-member Board for Correction of Military Records of the Coast Guard voted to reinstate 56 members and DHS said they will receive back pay.
The action follows President Trump's Jan. 27, 2025 executive order and the Aug. 21, 2021 mandate by Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, rescinded Jan. 10, 2023, and the Coast Guard's rescission Jan. 11, 2023.
DHS Secretary Kristi Noem called the reinstatements a "victory for religious, personal, and medical freedom" and said the prior mandates were "unconstitutional" and "un-American."
The Coast Guard discharged 274 enlisted members solely for refusing the vaccine during the nearly 15-month mandate, and the board reviewed 59 potential cases, granting relief to 56 in the current group.
Reinstated members will have their records changed to show continuous active duty, and they may be eligible for back pay, allowances, bonus payments, rank and seniority as determined by the Coast Guard.
Analysis
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FAQ
The search results do not specify an exact amount of back pay. According to the sources, reinstated members are eligible for back pay and allowances as determined by the Coast Guard, along with bonus payments, rank, and seniority adjustments, but the total compensation has not been publicly disclosed.[1]
Yes, the executive order applied beyond the Coast Guard. Approximately 8,700 service members in other military branches under the Department of Defense were involuntarily discharged for refusing the vaccine without an approved exemption.[2] The Pentagon is also reinstating those who meet the criteria, and War Secretary Pete Hegseth ordered military departments to review personnel records of troops discharged for vaccine refusal to facilitate discharge upgrades.[2]
All involuntarily discharged former Coast Guard members must apply for reinstatement no later than April 1, 2026.[5] Eligible members must submit to a National Crime Information Center (NCIC) and credit check as part of the application process.[5]
Members involuntarily or voluntarily separated solely due to refusal to receive the COVID-19 vaccine qualify for reinstatement if they are willing to serve a minimum of four years.[4] Additionally, applicants must submit to background checks and credit checks before being approved for reinstatement.[5]
The Coast Guard discharged 274 enlisted members solely for refusing the vaccine during the vaccine mandate period. The Board for Correction of Military Records reviewed 59 potential reinstatement cases and granted relief to 56 members in this current group.[1]
