The $858 billion in national defense spending passed by the Senate on Thursday also rolled back the U.S. military’s Covid-19 vaccine mandate. Thirteen Republican senators fought to end the vaccine mandate for military members, but neither of Alaska’s senators were among them.
The bill now heads to President Joe Biden, after the House already approved the $858 billion National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal year 2023.
“President Biden’s draconian military COVID vaccine mandate is a slap in the face to the men and women who pledged to serve our nation. My @SenateGOP colleagues and I led the fight to repeal the mandate,” wrote Sen. Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee.
The repeal of the military’s Covid vaccine mandate was the work of Republicans who pushed for it, including Sen. Ron Johnson, who also offered an amendment that would force the military to reinstate those it discharged for refusing to accept the Covid vaccine. His amendment did not pass.
The 13 GOP senators led by Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky who dug in their heels and said they would not vote for the annual defense bill if the vaccine requirement was not rescinded were Senators Lindsey Graham, Rick Scott, Mike Lee, Ted Cruz, Ron Johnson, Mike Braun, Roger Marshall, M.D., Tommy Tuberville, Marco Rubio, Steve Daines, Cindy Hyde-Smith, and Josh Hawley.
President Biden opposes the repeal of the vaccine mandate in the military.
