With the military facing a recruitment crisis, Rep. Nancy Mace called the Pentagon’s ‘failure’ to rehire these troops ‘unacceptable.’
The House Armed Services Committee adopted an amendment in the annual defense policy bill on May 22 that, if cleared through Congress, would force the Pentagon to rehire U.S. troops who were fired for refusing a COVID-19 vaccine.
The measure was adopted late on May 22 by lawmakers on the panel, who marked up and advanced their version of the annual appropriations bill, authorizing a defense budget of $849.8 billion.
The 2025 bill, titled the Servicemember Quality of Life Improvement and National Defense Authorization Act, will serve as the base text for forthcoming debate as it makes its way through Congress.
On May 22, Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.), who offered the amendment on rehiring veterans separated under the vaccine mandate policy, confirmed its adoption.
During the debate, she said the measure would direct the Pentagon to develop a strategy to recruit from among the thousands of servicemembers who “were made veterans overnight” under the COVID-19 vaccine mandate.
“This amendment seeks to address the loss of skilled, experienced personnel who were willing and able to serve their country and overcome the resistance of the Department in recruiting from this population,” Ms. Mace said ahead of a panel vote.
“The Department has so far failed to recruit a significant number of servicemembers separated under the COVID mandate. This is unacceptable.”
‘Vaccines Save Lives’
Offering a counter perspective after Ms. Mace spoke, Rep. Salud Carbajal (D-Calif.) said servicemembers are required to get a broad range of vaccines, including region-specific vaccines, when deployed to certain areas.
“Vaccines save lives,” Mr. Carbajal told lawmakers on the panel.
“I must say, it’s bewildering how the COVID-19 vaccine has become the boogeyman issue, but in reality, it is a readiness issue. We currently vaccinate our forces to protect them and to protect their fellow troops.”
Congress ended the Pentagon’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate in 2022 and last year directed Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin to create a path back to service for those who were separated for refusing the vaccine.
