WASHINGTON — The final version of the fiscal 2023 defense authorization bill is likely to rescind Defense Secretary Lloyd J. Austin III’s August 2021 memo ordering COVID-19 vaccines for most troops, a source familiar with the matter said Monday.
Ending the requirement, under which servicemembers who aren’t fully vaccinated are subject to discharge, has been a top priority of House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., and other senior Republicans in both chambers. McCarthy raised the issue with President Joe Biden in a meeting last week and reiterated over the weekend that the mandate should be repealed as part of the National Defense Authorization Act.
Republicans argue the requirement has led to unfair discharges for about 3,400 servicemembers, undermining morale and impairing recruitment and retention at a time when they are under stress. But top Pentagon and White House officials viewed the requirement as an important element of ensuring military readiness and troops’ health.
