A military service member gets a COVID-19 vaccine. Under the Biden administration, more than 8,000 service members were ousted from service because they refused the vaccine. (Jon Cherry/Getty Images)
According to the VA, more than 8,000 service members were separated after Biden's Department of Defense implemented the vaccination mandate.
Over half reportedly received discharges classified as less than fully honorable, a status that can limit eligibility for education benefits under the GI Bill.
After conducting initial reviews, the Department of War found that 899 veterans from this group now meet eligibility requirements for GI Bill benefits as a result of their upgraded discharge status.
Officials said the number could grow as more cases are reviewed under the guidelines set by Trump's executive order.
NEARLY 37,000 VA EMPLOYEES FURLOUGHED OR WORKING WITHOUT PAY AMID GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN
A metal plaque on the facade of the Department of Veterans Affairs building in Washington, D.C. (Robert Alexander/Getty Images)
"We are proud to help implement President Trump’s executive order and make these Veterans whole again."
Hegseth also offered support for the effort and said the reinstatement of benefits is an important step toward rebuilding trust among those affected.
"One of the most atrocious attacks on our military by the previous administration was the discharging and targeting of perfectly healthy warfighters who refused to take an experimental vaccine implemented by an illegal mandate," he said.
"We must never let that happen again, and we must also right the wrongs of the past in order to restore trust," he added. "We at the Department of War and the VA are grateful for President Trump's Executive Order reinstating GI Bill benefits for those veterans who were targeted for refusing the illegal COVID-19 vaccine mandate."
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Veterans seeking more information on discharge upgrades or GI Bill eligibility can contact the VA or their respective military department’s review board.
Emma Bussey is a breaking news writer for Fox News Digital. Before joining Fox, she worked at The Telegraph with the U.S. overnight team, across desks including foreign, politics, news, sport and culture.
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/va-restore-education-benefits-eligibility-veterans-ousted-under-biden-era-covid-vaccine-mandate