This bill prohibits DOD from reimposing COVID-19 vaccine mandates without congressional authorization. It provides remedies for service members discharged for vaccine refusal, including honorable discharge classification and bonus reimbursements.
Latest Action
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.
AI Summary
Plain-English explanation of this bill
This bill prohibits DOD from reimposing COVID-19 vaccine mandates without congressional authorization. It provides remedies for service members discharged for vaccine refusal, including honorable discharge classification and bonus reimbursements.
Last updated: 1/5/2026
Official Summary
Congressional Research Service summary
<p><strong>Allowing Military Exemptions, Recognizing Individual Concerns About New Shots Act of 2025 or the AMERICANS Act</strong></p><p>This bill prohibits the Department of Defense (DOD) from issuing any COVID-19 vaccine mandate as a replacement for the rescinded vaccine mandate of August 24, 2021, unless the mandate is expressly authorized by Congress. The bill also provides that DOD must establish an application process for remedies for members of the Armed Forces who were discharged or subject to adverse action under the rescinded mandate.</p><p>Any administrative discharge of a member on the sole basis of a failure to receive a COVID-19 vaccine must be categorized as an honorable discharge, and DOD is prohibited from taking any adverse action against such a member for that reason.</p><p>DOD must try to retain unvaccinated members and provide such members with professional development, promotion and leadership opportunities, and consideration equal to that of their peers.</p><p>Additionally, DOD may only consider the COVID-19 vaccination status of members in making certain decisions (e.g., deployments in countries where it is the law) and must establish a process to provide exemptions to certain members for such decisions.</p><p>Members who were separated from the Armed Forces for refusing to receive a COVID-19 vaccine are not required to repay any bonuses and must be reimbursed if they repaid any portion of a bonus prior to this bill's enactment.</p><p>This bill applies to all members of the Armed Forces, regardless of whether they sought an accommodation to any DOD COVID-19 vaccination policy.</p>
Key Points
Main provisions of the bill
Prohibits new DOD COVID vaccine mandates
Requires congressional authorization for future mandates
Ensures honorable discharge for vaccine refusers
Reimburses bonuses taken from unvaccinated troops
Provides equal treatment for unvaccinated members
How This Impacts Americans
Potential effects on citizens and communities
Service members discharged for refusing COVID vaccines would receive remedies including honorable discharge status and reimbursement of any bonuses they repaid. The military cannot mandate COVID vaccines without Congress.
Policy Areas
Primary Policy Area
Armed Forces and National Security
Related Subjects
Administrative remedies
Cardiovascular and respiratory health
Immunology and vaccination
Infectious and parasitic diseases
Military personnel and dependents
Scope & Jurisdiction
Jurisdiction Level
federal
Congressional Session
119th Congress
Citation Reference
117, 119th Congress (2025). "AMERICANS Act". Source: Voter's Right Platform. https://votersright.org/bills/118-s-117
