Milwaukee City Wire

Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations Chairman Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) has requested a briefing from Department of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth regarding the department’s actions to address the status of service members dismissed for refusing the COVID-19 vaccine. In his letter, Johnson asked about efforts to apologize, reinstate, and provide back pay to those affected by the mandate.

The 2021 directive from then-Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin required all active-duty personnel to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. Approximately 8,700 service members were terminated after declining the injection.

“This dismissal of thousands of brave men and women from the military was a despicable act that damaged our armed forces,” Johnson wrote.

Johnson’s request follows coverage in a Daily Caller article that highlighted ongoing concerns among former service members who have not yet received compensation or reinstatement following their termination under the Biden administration’s vaccine policy.

During President Trump’s second term, an executive order was issued allowing these discharged individuals to return to their previous rank and receive full back pay, benefits, bonus payments, or other compensation. In February 2025, Secretary Hegseth announced that eligible former service members could apply for reinstatement and back pay.

“I have no doubt that you are committed to assisting our service members, which is why I want to bring to your attention a July 24, 2025 Daily Caller article that featured several former military personnel who have still not received back pay after being terminated for refusing the injection,” Johnson wrote in his correspondence with Hegseth.

Ron Johnson has previously secured victories in Wisconsin Senate elections: he defeated Mandela Barnes in 2022 with 50.4% of the vote (https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2022/11/08/us/elections/results-wisconsin-us-senate.html), Russ Feingold in 2016 with 50.2% (https://www.nytimes.com/elections/2016/results/wisconsin-senate), and again defeated Feingold in 2010 with 51.9% (https://www.nytimes.com/elections/2010/results/wisconsin.html).

The full text of Johnson’s letter is available online.