The military’s now-rescinded 2021 COVID-19 shot mandate led to the discharge of more than 8,500 service members and prompted tens of thousands to choose to leave voluntarily.
As President Donald Trump, War Secretary Pete Hegseth, Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness Anthony Tata, and other Pentagon personnel strive toward reinstating some of these service members, alternative media has been instrumental in supporting some of their efforts.
A few weeks back, The Gateway Pundit requested that I write an article showcasing the outlet’s influence and the impact my articles have had on the careers of service members adversely affected by the military’s now-rescinded 2021 COVID-19 shot mandate.
It is a privilege for… pic.twitter.com/NDzNRY8uhe
— J.M. Phelps (@JMPhelpsLC) July 6, 2026
Here are four cases, presented in no specific order, that illustrate the tremendous influence of The Gateway Pundit and the work of investigative journalist J.M. Phelps:
Air Force Major Brennan Schilperoort
U.S. Air Force Major Brennan “Skip” Schilperoort, a C-130J Pilot with more than 18 years of active duty across Air Force Special Operations Command and Air Mobility Command, stated, “I would not be where I am today if it were not for J.M. Phelps and The Gateway Pundit, and their critical, timely reporting on my case.” On the heels of the now-rescinded 2021 COVID-19 shot mandate, Maj. Schilperoort was marked for punishment by his Chain of Command and barred from flying for five years. “Phelps and The Gateway Pundit were crucial for getting my story and the stories of many of those in my circles who were facing persecution, out to the masses,” he said.
Even though Maj. Schilperoort became part of the Doster v. Kendall class-action lawsuit led by Siri & Glimstad in 2022, which temporarily protected his career with a federal injunction, he revealed, “my saga of maladministration and moral injury was not over.”
“In 2023,” the C-130J pilot explained, “I requested a medical exemption for the flu shot via my base medical clinic, due to having suffered a severe adverse reaction to the flu treatment in a previous year which left me completely bedridden for almost four days—the sickest I’d ever been in my entire life.”
The exemption request was denied—not even processed—unless he could demonstrate that he had experienced an anaphylactic reaction, which is a serious and potentially fatal allergic response.
“I then tried for a religious exemption for the flu shot, but that was refused—unlawfully not processed—and I was given an unlawful Letter of Reprimand, sent to an unlawful discharge board, and had my pay stripped from me for three months,” Maj. Schilperoort recounted. “If it were not for Phelps’ articles at The Gateway Pundit that were handed to the Secretary of the Air force, who then intervened, my career might be over, and I could have been discharged three years shy of retirement.”
Shortly after the publication of these articles, the Air Force Inspector General, “citing Phelps’ work,” substantiated his complaints against his Chain of Command and declared his leadership had violated the law and military policy. Two weeks later, the Air Force Review Boards Agency verified these findings, indicating that he had been “discriminated against on the basis of religion.”
“In March of this year, the Air Force Board for Correction of Military Records, restored my career with full backpay,” said Maj. Schilperoort. “I am greatly indebted to J.M. Phelps’ and The Gateway Pundit and would not be where I am today without them.”
Space Force Captain Joshua Zermeno
U.S. Space Force officer, Captain Joshua Zermeno, dedicated over 13 years of service to the nation, including significant time in space superiority operations at Vandenberg Space Force Base.
In August 2021, Capt. Zermeno objected to the Department of Defense’s COVID-19 shot mandate on grounds of its efficacy, legality, and his personal convictions. For this principled stand, he received Letters of Reprimand, “Do Not Promote” recommendations, Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ) punishment, and restrictions barring him from government buildings. Ultimately, he was involuntarily separated from the Space Force on August 31, 2023.
“The mandate’s fallout upended my livelihood, professional trajectory, and sense of duty, forcing me into a prolonged battle for reinstatement even after the policy was rescinded and later addressed by President Trump’s executive order,” Capt. Zermeno stated in an exclusive interview.
“The Gateway Pundit’s coverage, spearheaded by J.M. Phelps, played a pivotal role in shining a light on my story and the broader struggles of service members impacted by the mandate,” he shared. “The articles amplified my situation at critical moments when bureaucratic roadblocks threatened to derail reinstatement, helping generate awareness and pressure that contributed to overcoming unforeseen obstacles.”
According to him, “Phelps’ relentless reporting, personal advocacy, and direct connections were instrumental in helping push my case across the finish line, culminating in my reinstatement on June 26, 2026.”
Army Captain Mark Bashaw
Captain Mark Bashaw’s military career represents a profound transition from systemic institutional penalization to high-level strategic vindication. Originally serving as a First Lieutenant and medical officer in the U.S. Army, CPT Bashaw encountered a troubling sequence of adverse actions that severely affected his career. These included a special court-martial conviction, a blocked promotion, and an involuntary discharge in June 2023, all following his protected whistleblower complaints regarding the military’s 2021 COVID-19 mandates that have since been deemed “unlawful as implemented” by the Department of War.
Refusing to yield, his persistent pursuit of justice resulted in complete vindication in 2025: first receiving a full and unconditional Presidential Pardon from Commander-in-Chief Donald J. Trump in May, followed by a landmark Army Board for Correction of Military Records (ABCMR) ruling in September that expunged his adverse records, restored his entitlements, and promoted him to the rank of Captain.
Due to his personal experiences and military background, CPT Bashaw was selected to return to active duty to serve on the Joint COVID-19 Reinstatement Task Force. In this role, he is responsible for executing President Trump’s Executive Order 14184, which aims to identify and reinstate unjustly separated service members, while also fully restoring their records, rank, and benefits.
“As an Army medical officer who faced severe retaliation for raising safety concerns regarding the COVID-19 mandates, I am incredibly grateful for the vital journalism of J.M. Phelps,” CPT Bashaw told The Gateway Pundit. “When my chain of command unjustly labeled me an ‘insider threat,’ suspended my clearance, and dragged me through a court-martial simply for doing my duty to report public health dangers, Phelps stepped up to shed light on the injustice.”
He stated that Phelps’ reporting, along with reports by The Gateway Pundit, “accurately exposed the weaponization of military justice and the discrimination I endured after 17 years of honorable service. By giving a public voice to my struggle to uphold my oath to the Constitution, his work provided crucial support and visibility during the most difficult days of my military service.”
Army Chief Warrant Officer 4 Brandon Budge
After enduring nearly four years of harassment, punishment, and professional retaliation for questioning the efficacy of the non-FDA-approved, experimental COVID-19 shot administered under Emergency Use Authorization, Chief Warrant Officer 4 (CW4) Brandon Budge finally prevailed under the new leadership at the Department of War, just months before his forced retirement on January 31, 2026.
In July 2021, Budge faced intense scrutiny due to his reluctance to receive the COVID-19 shot. His career was threatened by his commander. His wife was pregnant at the time, and Budge was told that without the shot, the Army would not allow him to travel to be present for the birth of his seventh child.
What ensued was a long and damaging administrative fight. Budge was subjected to a flawed and incomplete investigation connected to the COVID-19 shot mandate. During this period, he received a General Officer Memorandum of Reprimand (GOMOR). This led to the revocation of the promotion from CW3 to CW4 that he had already earned and been selected for in 2021.
The Black Hawk helicopter pilot was subjected to a Flying Evaluation Board, which he ultimately succeeded in. The Board found that the allegations against him were unsubstantiated and determined that there were no grounds to support the action taken against him.
Despite the positive outcome, Budge’s command, the Command Chief Warrant Officer, and the Brigade Commander persisted in their efforts to permanently strip him of his ability to serve as a pilot. Even after the Board cleared him, they sought to leverage the process against him in a way that would have ended the aviation career he had built over years of service, sacrifice, and proven performance.
On September 5, 2025, The Gateway Pundit was the first to report that Budge’s General Officer Memorandum of Reprimand had been removed. Shortly thereafter, his promotion was restored and retroactively applied by more than three years, reinstating the trajectory of his 22-year career. Consequently, Budge retired on January 31, 2026, as a Chief Warrant Officer 4, with his rank and record restored before the end of his military career.
According to a press release from Younts Law, media coverage played a pivotal role in bringing attention to Budge’s case, including multiple articles published by The Gateway Pundit.
Budge said The Gateway Pundit’s coverage, along with the continued efforts of those who refused to let the issue disappear, helped push his case across the finish line.
“This was never just about rank,” Budge said. “It was about clearing my name, correcting the record and refusing to allow a flawed process to define the end of a 22-year career. It was also about clearing the way for others. The attention brought to my case helped expose what had happened and ensured that it could no longer be ignored, not for me and not for anyone else who suffered under the same kind of injustice.”
Vital Role of Journalism in Upholding Justice
According to Davis Younts, “J.M. Phelps of The Gateway Pundit stands out as one of the most principled and courageous journalists in this fight. His tireless commitment to uncovering the truth and his fearless willingness to challenge the powerful have made him an indispensable ally in the battle for justice against the unlawful COVID mandates.”
“Phelps’ outstanding work has directly impacted my clients’—CW4 Budge and Maj. Schilperoort—ability to fight back and restore what was taken from them,” said the retired Air Force Lieutenant Colonel and former Judge Advocate General (JAG) officer.
The four cases and their supporting testimonies vividly illustrate the significant influence journalism can have on the lives of military personnel facing unjust treatment. The narratives not only highlight the challenges posed by the unlawful mandates but also underscore the importance of advocacy and transparency.
The journeys of these service members, from adversity to vindication, should serve as a constant reminder of the resilience of those who serve and the critical role that dedicated journalists and alternative media can play in amplifying their voices when they need to be heard.
Phelps acknowledges that the battle for service members and veterans is far from over, and he—alongside The Gateway Pundit—still has much more to accomplish. This is not about a journalist or a media outlet. It’s about doing what is right.
The post Resilience and Redemption: How the Gateway Pundit and the ‘Tireless Commitment’ of One Journalist Advocated for Service Members appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.