COVID–19 Military Backpay Act of 2025
Sponsored By: Representative Rep. Zinke, Ryan K. [R-MT-1]
Introduced
Summary
Restoring pay and benefits for service members discharged for not complying with the COVID-19 vaccination mandate. The bill would let eligible active, reserve, and National Guard members sue in the Court of Federal Claims for a finding that their discharge was involuntary or unlawful and obtain monetary and non-monetary remedies.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Back pay and retirement credit for troops
If a court rules your discharge was involuntary or unlawful, you would be treated as if you kept serving. You would get service credit from your discharge through the end of your term plus a two-year extension, and could reenlist despite reentry codes. This credit could push you to 18 or 20 years, with retired or retainer pay and benefits once 20 years are deemed completed; otherwise, you could get involuntary separation pay. Reserve and Guard members could get pay for missed inactive-duty training, with no offset for civilian earnings.
New court path for vaccine discharge cases
If enacted, covered service members could sue in the U.S. Court of Federal Claims over vaccine-related discharges. The court would clearly have jurisdiction, even if other rules would block the case. Defendants could not call the discharge voluntary if it was only due to vaccine noncompliance or status. If paperwork cites convenience of the Government, failure to deploy, or misconduct, that would count as proof it was involuntary. These rules would cover qualifying cases pending on or after enactment, and apply only to covered members with covered discharges.
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Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Rep. Zinke, Ryan K. [R-MT-1]
MT • R
Cosponsors
Rep. McCormick, Richard [R-GA-7]
GA • R
Sponsored 8/1/2025
Rep. Weber, Randy K. Sr. [R-TX-14]
TX • R
Sponsored 8/1/2025
Rep. Gosar, Paul A. [R-AZ-9]
AZ • R
Sponsored 8/1/2025
Rep. Cloud, Michael [R-TX-27]
TX • R
Sponsored 8/1/2025
Rep. Patronis, Jimmy [R-FL-1]
FL • R
Sponsored 8/1/2025
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
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