Providing Supplemental Remedies for Service Members and Veterans Negatively Impacted by the Department of Defense Defunct Coronavirus Disease 2019 Vaccination Mandate

In April 2025, the Secretary of Defense issued a directive to provide supplemental remedies for service members and veterans negatively affected by the now-defunct COVID-19 vaccine mandate. The Department of Defense (DoD) had already issued apologies and offered reinstatement to those separated due to vaccine refusal, but this memo goes further—directing discharge upgrades and the removal of adverse actions linked solely to vaccine refusal. It also outlines support for correcting career setbacks tied to requests for exemptions. These actions aim to restore trust and fairness across the military community.