Hegseth swears in Air Force general who was forced to retire for refusing COVID-19 vaccine

War Secretary Swears In General Forced to Retire After Refusing COVID-19 Vaccine

Secretary of War Pete Hegseth (L), hosts a reinstatement ceremony for U.S. Air Force Brig. Gen. Melissa Cunningham (R), at the Pentagon on Oct. 23, 2026. (Courtesy of U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Eugene Oliver)

Hegseth Reinstates Air Force General Forced Into Retirement Over COVID-19 Vaccine Mandate

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has sworn Air Force Brig. Gen. Melissa Cunningham back into active duty four years after she was forced into early retirement for refusing the military's COVID-19 vaccine requirement, marking another reinstatement under President Donald Trump's policy reversing pandemic-era separations.

Hegseth swears in Air Force general who was forced to retire for refusing COVID-19 vaccine

President Trump signed an executive order last year that allowed all military service members who were discharged for refusing the vaccine to be reinstated.