US President Joe Biden signed the Fiscal 2023 National Defense Authorization into law, ending the Covid-19 vaccine mandate for members of the Armed Forces.
According to the reports, despite President Biden’s opposition to the ending of the said mandate with the White House had even gone so far as threatening the public that Biden might veto the bill, he still had signed it.
In an official statement released by a Pentagon spokesperson told The Epoch Times in an email, it was revealed that the “NDAA requires that, not later than 30 days after enactment, the Secretary of Defense rescind the mandate that members of the Armed Forces be va**inated. As a result, the Department will rescind the mandate and is currently in the process of developing further guidance. During this process, we are pausing all actions related to the mandate.”
“The health and readiness of our force are crucial to the Department’s ability to defend our nation, and Secretary Austin continues to encourage all of our Service members, civilian employees, and contractor personnel to get va**inated and boosted to ensure the readiness of our total force,” the spokesperson added in the statement.
In 2021, the US Department of Defense required all of its military troops to by September 15th of that year.
In an exclusive report by AP News at that time, “Members of the U.S. military will be required to get the COVID-19 vaccine beginning next month under a plan laid out by the Pentagon Monday and endorsed by President Joe Biden. In memos distributed to all troops, top Pentagon leaders said the vaccine is a necessary step to maintain military readiness.”
According to Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, “I will seek the president’s approval to make the vaccines mandatory no later than mid-September, or immediately upon” licensure by the Food and Drug Administration “whichever comes first,” warning the troops to prepare for the requirement.
Austin also warned that “I will not hesitate to act sooner or recommend a different course to the President if l feel the need to do so. To defend this Nation, we need a healthy and ready force.”
