Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on Armed Services, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
The COVID-19 Military Backpay Act of 2025 provides legal remedies for military members discharged or separated due to refusing the Department of Defense's COVID-19 vaccination mandate. Service members who were discharged can file civil lawsuits in the Court of Federal Claims arguing their discharge was involuntary or unlawful, with the burden of proof shifted so that discharges for "convenience of the Government" or failure to deploy are presumed involuntary. If successful, eligible members would receive back pay for missed training, be credited with service time as if they had never been discharged, potentially qualify for military retirement benefits if they would have completed 20 years of service, be allowed to reenlist, and receive involuntary separation pay. The bill applies to all current and pending claims in the Court of Federal Claims and works alongside an existing executive order on the same subject but provides additional legal pathways and remedies for affected service members.
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