Congress to End Military COVID-19 Vaccine Mandate in New Defense Spending Bill
Summary from the AllSides News Team
Congress will likely end the U.S. military’s coronavirus vaccine requirement, according to a draft of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2023 released by the House and Senate Tuesday evening.
For Context: The move is a concession by Democrats to Republicans like House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.), who had raised the issue in a meeting with President Joe Biden. McCarthy later called the move a “victory for our military and for common sense.” However, the White House refused to say on Wednesday whether Biden would sign the NDAA, calling the vaccine requirement’s removal a “mistake.” Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin also opposes revoking the requirement, which he implemented in August 2021.
Impact on the Military: While over 97% of active Army personnel are vaccinated, the Army has discharged a total of 1,841 active-duty soldiers for refusing the vaccine; top Republicans have called for their reinstatement. On Saturday, a top Marine Corps general defended the vaccine requirement but said it had harmed recruiting efforts. Furthermore, 21 Republican governors sent a letter to Congress saying the mandate had harmed National Guard recruitment. However, Defense Secretary Austin said Tuesday that the military had no data suggesting requiring COVID-19 vaccines hurt recruiting.
How the Media Covered It: Coverage was common across the spectrum and included several angles, including the bill itself, praise from Republicans, and criticism from the White House. Some coverage from the right took a more celebratory tone; a Fox News (Right bias) headline said, “Republicans cheer military vaccine mandate rollback.”
Featured Coverage of this Story
From the Center
Military COVID-19 vaccine mandate repealed in defense bill compromiseHouse and Senate lawmakers on Tuesday night unveiled plans for a compromise defense authorization bill which would boost the military budget by 8% over fiscal 2022 levels and rescind the military’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate for service members.
The $858 billion plan (which includes roughly $817 billion in Department of Defense spending) also includes plans for a 4.6% pay raise for troops starting next month and nearly $19 billion in extra funding to deal with extra inflation costs on construction, fuel prices and other military purchases
House lawmakers are expected to pass the measure by the end of...
From the Left
Congress moves to end military’s coronavirus vaccine mandateCongress is poised to force the Pentagon to end the military’s coronavirus vaccine mandate under compromise legislation to authorize funding for the Defense Department, a major capitulation for Democrats who championed the policy despite sharp controversy in the ranks over its implementation.
The abrupt termination of the requirement, which became Pentagon policy in August 2021, came after Republican lawmakers threatened to stymie action on the $858 billion bill. It was incorporated into the legislation in apparent defiance of Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, who “supports maintaining the vaccine mandate,” Pentagon press secretary Brig....
From the Right
Republican House Leader Kevin McCarthy: ‘The COVID Vax Mandate On Our Military Is Ending’House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) said Tuesday night that the Biden administration’s COVID vaccine mandate for the U.S. military will come to an end.
The statement from McCarthy comes as House Democrats are reportedly set to defy President Joe Biden by joining Republicans to jettison the requirement for military service members to get the vaccine.
“The end of President Biden’s military COVID vaccine mandate is a victory for our military and for common sense,” McCarthy said in a statement. “Last week, I told the president directly: it’s time to end the COVID vaccine mandate and...
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