Former President Joe Biden’s Pentagon has seen dismissals related to the refusal to get vaccinated, ramping up four years after policies were enforced requiring the COVID-19 vaccine for Department of Defense officials, veterans, and ex-service members. An order established by former Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin back in August 2021 led to the termination of about 8,500 active-duty members who opted out of getting vaccinated.
This decision has left some military personnel still fighting for what they feel is just compensation, despite President Donald Trump’s efforts to provide backpay to those affected. Military Backpay, a legal firm, is spearheading three class-action lawsuits to assist veterans impacted by Biden’s policies, aiming to secure justice for those dismissed under these mandates. The Army has also barred nearly 62,000 reservists and members of the National Guard from serving for the same reason.
Dale Saran, an attorney from Military Backpay, emphasizes that restoring justice for those impacted is crucial to his firm’s mission. He expressed frustration over the wider implications of these mandates, suggesting that the damage inflicted on military institutions often goes unnoticed.
Take Chris Harkins, for instance, a U.S. Coast Guard veteran who was all set to retire after 19 years of commendable service. With the pandemic impacting many, he sought a religious exemption from the vaccine, which was denied. Eventually, he was dismissed just months shy of his planned retirement, leading to significant personal challenges.
Harkins’s experience mirrors that of many others, such as Nick Bassen, who encountered a similar fate after refusing the vaccine. Bassen was on the brink of retirement from the Army when he faced backlash from his commander, branding him a liability. This resulted in his early discharge, depriving him and his family of essential benefits during a challenging time.
The cases of Bassen and Harkins are representative of a larger group, exceeding 700 plaintiffs in total. Recently, they submitted a request for broader certification, seeking to support service members who left voluntarily under the vaccine mandate or those denied exemptions.
Additionally, a hearing in the Federal Claims Court related to the National Guard and Reserves allowed for the possibility of pausing ongoing lawsuits. There’s an ongoing focus on securing backpay and other lost benefits for those negatively affected by the vaccine policy.
Saran further commented on how the military’s COVID vaccine rollout has echoed past vaccination controversies, highlighting that military officials often treated vaccination compliance as a test of loyalty. He pointed out a tension between the obligation to follow orders and the moral duty to resist illegal commands, a dichotomy that has persisted since World War II.
The Department of Justice has refrained from commenting on these matters.
