Tens of thousands of military service members have been discharged for refusing to get the COVID-19 vaccine, since it was mandated back in August 2021.
The Senate passed the National Defense Authorization Act to remove the vaccine mandate for U.S. military members and provide nearly $858 billion for national defense on December 15.
The White House declined to say whether or not President Joe Biden would sign the bill into law last week.
“To date, Army commanders have relieved a total of six Regular Army leaders, including two battalion commanders, and issued 3,073 general officer written reprimands to Soldiers for refusing the vaccination order,” the Army told NPR in February.
The numbers only increased in 2022.
Just about 40,000 National Guard and 22,000 Reserve soldiers were discharged for not being vaccinated, U.S. Army officials announced in July.
“Soldiers who refuse the vaccination order without an approved or pending exemption request are subject to adverse administrative actions, including flags, bars to service, and official reprimands,” a U.S. Army spokesperson said in a July statement.
As of early December, about 99% of active-duty troops in the U.S. Navy, U.S. Air Force and Marine Corps are vaccinated, with an additional 98% of U.S. Army members, according to CBS News— however, the National Guard and Reserve have vaccination percentages closer to 90. Those who were not vaccinated were not permitted to deploy, though religious exemptions did allow certain military members to remain on active duty and not vaccinated.
The bill provides $45 billion for defense programs requested by the Biden Administration— that’s just about 10% more than last year, as lawmakers are looking to increase military spending due to inflation and competitiveness with China and Russia. It also includes a 4.6% pay raise for military members and the Defense Department’s civilian workforce.
The Senate passed the bill with a vote of 83-11. It also received bipartisan support in the House last week. Democrats won the GOP over by agreeing to their demands to remove the COVID-19 vaccine mandate.
The bill addresses policy and provides a structure for future military spending. This is the first of many steps in ensuring that all provisions are passed.
As this Congress prepares to adjourn, this was one of the final bills to be passed.
