January 10, 2023 7:41pm EST
Pentagon ditches COVID vaccine mandate for troops
Austin’s memo gives commanders some discretion in how or whether to deploy troops who are not vaccinated
By Bradford Betz | Fox News
The Pentagon is formally dropping a controversial COVID-19 vaccine mandate for troops, according to a memo obtained by The Associated Press.
President Biden signed a defense policy bill just before Christmas that included a provision cleared by the House and the Senate to repeal the administration’s military vaccine mandate.
The National Defense Authorization Act terminated the COVID-19 vaccine for military members, but did not reinstate those who were discharged or had their benefits cut for refusing the vaccine. Reinstatement has become a priority for some Republicans who said the strict mandate is among the reasons why military recruitment is at an all-time low.
The legislation gave Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin 30 days to rescind the vaccine mandate. The Defense Department had already stopped all related personnel actions, such as discharging troops who refused the shot.
"The Department will continue to promote and encourage COVID-19 vaccination for all service members," Austin said in the memo. "Vaccination enhances operational readiness and protects the force."
Austin’s memo still gives commanders discretion in how or whether to deploy troops who are not vaccinated. Commanders, he said, have the authority to maintain unit readiness and a healthy force.
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https://www.foxnews.com/politics/pentagon-ditches-covid-vaccine-mandate-troops
