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ICAN is calling out Secretary Pete Hegseth and the Department of War (DOW) to address sweeping exceptions that undermine its recently announced “voluntary” influenza vaccine policy—and its continued inexcusable delay in reinstating soldiers separated from the military for refusing the COVID-19 vaccine.
On April 21, 2026, ICAN applauded Secretary Hegseth’s announcement that the influenza vaccine would be voluntary for all active-duty troops, reservists, and civilian personnel. But after seeing how soldiers were treated for refusing the COVID-19 vaccine for religious reasons, ICAN’s attorneys wrote to Hegseth, urging the Department to issue clear guidance ensuring that service members who exercise that choice are protected from retaliation.
In June, ICAN received a response from DOW promising to treat all soldiers with “dignity and respect,” regardless of their vaccine choice. However, just a few weeks later, Hegseth appeared to reverse course, with DOW carving out broad exceptions to the voluntary policy. The influenza vaccine is now mandatory for new recruits in basic training and deployed forces, among others. A policy cannot meaningfully be called “voluntary” when broad categories of service members are excluded. Removing choice is not how soldiers—whose mission is to fight for and defend our rights—should be treated.
In early August, ICAN sent a second letter to DOW about delays in reinstating soldiers who left (or were forced out) of the military for refusing the COVID-19 vaccine. It’s been 18 months since President Trump issued the order to welcome them back. Yet bureaucratic delays continue to leave these honorable men and women—who stood proudly by their convictions—in limbo.
ICAN has called on DOW to explain the cause of these delays, eliminate the roadblocks, and take immediate action to complete these reinstatements. These soldiers should never have been forced to leave the military in the first place. We will keep pressing until the DOW honors its promises and every affected service member receives the reinstatement, back pay, and benefits they are owed.
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