Zinke Introduces Bill to Provide Backpay to Service Members Discharged Under Biden’s COVID Vaccine Mandate

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Western Montana Congressman and former U.S. Navy SEAL Commander Ryan Zinke introduced the COVID-19 Military Backpay Act of 2025, legislation that would provide backpay and restore benefits to thousands of U.S. servicemembers discharged under the Biden administration’s illegal COVID vaccine mandate.

“Thousands of brave men and women were stripped of their rank, pay, and honor for standing up for their personal medical freedom and constitutional rights,” said Zinke. “The Biden administration’s vaccine mandate was a betrayal of our military community, and even after it was overturned, the damage remains. This bill is about righting that wrong.”

Companion legislation was introduced in the Senate by Senator Tim Sheehy (R-MT). The bill is co-sponsored by Reps. Rich McCormick (R-GA-07), Randy Weber (R-TX-14), Paul Gosar (R-AZ-09), Jimmy Patronis (FL-01), and Michael Cloud (R-TX-27).

Background:

Nearly 8,500 active-duty personnel were discharged for refusing to comply with the Biden administration’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate. More than 60,000 Reserve and National Guard members were barred from duty, resulting in lost pay, benefits, and retirement accrual. An estimated 100,000 service members and their families suffered consequences from the mandate.

Although the courts later ruled the mandate unconstitutional and it was repealed in the FY23 National Defense Authorization Act, many of the affected service members have yet to receive proper compensation or reinstatement.

The COVID-19 Military Backpay Act of 2025 would:

• Authorize backpay and benefit restoration for eligible service members under the Military Pay Act.
• Ensure an efficient, opt-in claims process for those wrongfully discharged or penalized.
• Support President Trump’s Executive Order to reinstate service members impacted by the mandate.

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