Biden Suffers Major Defeat as GOP about to Kill Military Vaccine Mandate

Democrat President Joe “Multiple Crises” Biden has suffered a substantial political blow after the Republicans managed to force the Democrats to nix his COVID-19 vaccination mandate for the US military to pass the 2023 defense budget law.

‘Big Win for the GOP’

Sleepy Joe’s vaccine mandate for the US military, endorsed and in practice ordered by his Defense Secretary, Lloyd Austin, has negatively affected America’s defense as thousands of service personnel have either quit on their own or have been sacked for refusing to get the coronavirus shots.

As part of the still ongoing talks for the draft 2023 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), the Democrats have agreed to include language repealing the vaccination mandate for the US military, Fox News reported.

According to the report, however, the new NDAA would not reinstate troops who got discharged because of the vaccination requirement, a provision also demanded by the Republicans.

Big Win For the GOP?

At the same time, the compromise, which is still a significant defeat for Empty Shelves Joe, would seek to provide compensation to former service personnel facing “consequences” for refusing the jab.

The full text of the draft 2023 National Defense Authorization Act, with its clause ending Biden’s vaccination mandate, will likely be made public later on Wednesday. The US House of Representatives is expected to vote on it by the end of the week.

Even though the new provision would not restore discharged service members, it is still considered a “big win for the Republicans,” as the GOP has been opposed to the COVID-19 pandemic vaccination mandates since before they were introduced by the Biden administration.

The Biden-Austin Vax Axis Has Failed

The Republican push to nix the vax requirement for the US military came earlier this month during a meeting at the White House where Biden hosted congressional leaders including Nancy Pelosi, House Min. Leader Kevin McCarthy, Senate Maj. Leader Chuck Schumer, and Senate Min. Leader Mitch McConnell.

During the meeting, McCarthy, who is most likely to succeed Pelosi as Speaker in the new Congress next month, insisted on a “bipartisan agreement” that would do away with the military vaccination mandate.

Biden’s White House staff confirmed that the Democrat president had agreed the idea should be considered.

At the same time, however, according to Olivia Dalton, a White House spokesperson, while Biden acknowledged McCarthy’s idea, he was more inclined to listen to his Defense Secretary, Lloyd Austin.

Austin recommended that the coronavirus vax mandate be kept, with the Democrat president “supporting his position,” Dalton said. She did note, however, that talks on the 2023 NDAA were still ongoing.

Sleepy Joe’s administration imposed a vaccination mandate on all US service members in August 2021, a little more than half a year after Biden had taken office.

At the same time, Biden also imposed a vaccination requirement for all federal government employees.

Thousands of US troops have been booted or quit on their own for refusing to get the coronavirus vaccine, and the mandate is believed to have hurt massively the military branch’s recruitment this year.

The 2023 NDAA provides for an $817 billion defense spending budget and is expected to be passed by both chambers of Congress before the Christmas holidays.

 

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