Children's Health Defense By
By Katabella Roberts
Nearly 50 Republican lawmakers, led by Rep. Mike Johnson (R-La.), have called on the U.S. Department of Defense to withdraw its COVID-19 vaccine mandate for military members, citing concerns over the mandate’s impact on the readiness of the U.S. armed forces.
In a letter to Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin dated Sept. 15, the lawmakers, including Reps. Chip Roy (R-Texas) and Thomas Massie (R-Ky.), expressed their “grave concerns” over the impact of the mandate, particularly with regard to the U.S. Army.
“As a result of your mandate, 8% of the Army’s approximately 1 million soldiers face expulsion, Army recruiters cannot meet their FY22 target and the Army has cut its projected FY23 end strength by 12,000 soldiers,” they wrote.
