The Pentagon is considering offering back pay to service members who were discharged for refusing to take the COVID-19 vaccine, now that the military’s mandate has been repealed, Politico reported.

“Regarding back pay, the department is still exploring this and will provide its views on legislation of this nature at the appropriate time and through the appropriate process,” Pentagon spokesperson Maj. Charlie Dietz told Politico.

More than 8,400 service members were dismissed for refusing the vaccine. Thousands of others sought exemptions for religious or medical exemptions. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin directed the services to stop reviewing those cases as part of the mandate repeal.

Army photo by SPC Clara Soria-Hernandez