OPINION | This article contains the author's opinion.
Numerous Republicans say they are blocking the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) unless Covid vaccine mandates for military personnel are removed.
13 Republican senators have signed a letter to end the Biden administration’s COVID vaccine mandate for soldiers.
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I’m opposing moving forward on the NDAA unless the Senate votes on an amendment to prohibit discharges from the Armed Forces solely because of vaccination status. The amendment will also reinstate service members already discharged w/ back pay. Read more: https://t.co/ejcYF64Koa pic.twitter.com/4qa3Gu74r4
— Senator Rand Paul (@SenRandPaul) November 30, 2022
This included Florida Senator Rick Scott, Kentucky Senator Rand Paul, Texas Senator Ted Cruz, and others.
Jack Posobiec of Human Events commented, “This would be a huge W for the military if included. Especially if it includes reinstatement.”
Senator Scott said “I think on the NDAA one thing that’s going to be important is that we don’t give cloture unless they agree that we’re not going to keep kicking people out of the service for their – if they’re unvaccinated.”
“I think that we’ve got to start standing up for people,” Scott added.
Mitch McConnell explained, “The Department of Defense COVID-19 vaccine mandate has ruined the livelihoods of men and women who have honorably served our country.”
“While the Department of Defense certainly must make decisions that will bolster military readiness, the effects of the mandate are antithetical to readiness of our force, and the policy must be revoked,” he continued.
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Sen. Paul said at a press conference that the vaccination mandate has “forced our nation’s young patriotic men and women to choose between their faith, their medical autonomy, and their careers.”
“At a time when the military is struggling to meet targets for recruitment, the administration is firing soldiers we invested in and trained,” he added.
The NDAA has existed since the 1950s. It covers spending for the military including programs and pay raises.
The Biden administration has pushed for dishonorable discharges for those who do not get their Covid shots.