About 900 Veterans Discharged Over COVID Vaccine Now Eligible for GI Bill Benefits

Approximately 900 veterans discharged for refusing the COVID-19 vaccine during the previous Biden administration are now eligible for GI Bill education benefits, and federal officials anticipate that potentially thousands more will qualify as reviews proceed this week.

The modification occurred after President Donald Trump signed Executive Order 14184 in January. The order mandates the Department of Defense and the Department of Veterans Affairs to restore benefits for service members discharged under the Pentagon’s previous vaccine mandate, which was implemented on August 24, 2021, under the leadership of Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin. Austin revoked the mandate on January 10, 2023.

Defense officials examined military records and identified that 899 former service members are now newly eligible for GI Bill benefits, which have supported veterans and their families in funding education and vocational training since 1944.

The Biden Administration's authoritarian COVID mandates disrupted the lives and livelihoods of thousands of service members and veterans, stated VA Secretary Doug Collins in a formal statement. We take great pride in our role in carrying out President Trump's executive order and helping these veterans reclaim their rightful positions.

A VA spokesperson directed further inquiries to an official government press release. Military.com has also contacted the White House and the Pentagon to request their comments.

Trump’s directive mandates multiple measures, including reinstating discharged service members who request it, restoring their prior ranks, and providing full back pay, benefits, and compensation. It also instructs the military to permit service members who submit affidavits linking their separation to the vaccination mandate to rejoin without penalty to their rank or compensation.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth directed the military branches to assist in upgrading discharges for former service members whose separations were designated as less than entirely honorable.

"One of the most egregious actions against our military by the previous administration was the discharge and targeting of otherwise healthy service members who declined to receive an experimental vaccine mandated through an unlawful directive," Hegseth stated. We must ensure that such an event never occurs again.

Veterans seeking redress may submit their applications through their Military Department’s Discharge Review Board or the Board for Correction of Military or Naval Records. Applicants must provide a detailed explanation of why they consider their discharge unjust or erroneous, and supporting documentation may reinforce their case.

Veterans who were discharged within the previous 15 years are advised to submit DD Form 293 to their review board. Individuals requesting more extensive record corrections are advised to submit DD Form 149.

Additional information regarding VA education benefits can be obtained at va.gov/education or by contacting 800-GI-BILL.