Biden administration mulls ending U.S. navy COVID-19 vaccine mandate By Reuters

By David Morgan and Jeff Mason

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – President Joe Biden’s administration is mulling a proposal from Republican chief Kevin McCarthy to repeal the U.S. navy’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate, the White Home mentioned on Saturday.

McCarthy, who’s vying to turn into speaker of the U.S. Home of Representatives, earlier instructed Fox Information he had received bipartisan settlement to raise the mandate at a White Home assembly with Biden, Senate Majority Chief Chuck Schumer, Home Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Republican chief Mitch McConnell.

McCarthy mentioned it could be repealed as a part of the must-pass $817 billion Nationwide Protection Authorization Act, or NDAA, an annual invoice setting coverage for the Pentagon that’s anticipated to cross the Senate and Home of Representatives this month.

However the White Home mentioned Biden had agreed solely to contemplate the thought.

“Chief McCarthy raised this with the president and the president instructed him he would contemplate it,” mentioned White Home spokesperson Olivia Dalton. “The secretary of protection has advisable retaining the mandate, and the president helps his place. Discussions concerning the NDAA are ongoing.”

The mandate, which was imposed in August 2021, requires all U.S. service members to be vaccinated towards COVID-19.

“You realize what I used to be in a position to obtain in that assembly? To have the opportunity (to) – we’ll see within the NDAA – raise the vaccination mandate on our navy women and men,” McCarthy, the highest Home Republican, mentioned within the interview, which aired late on Friday.

“I do know I’ll get that,” McCarthy mentioned. “We’re working it out proper now. I consider we’re … going to get that.”

There was no quick remark from the opposite three congressional leaders on the assembly.

The Pentagon’s vaccine mandate has been the item of intense opposition from Republican conservatives, together with a number of Home lawmakers who’re threatening to dam McCarthy from turning into speaker when Republicans take management of the chamber on Jan. 3.

Based on Protection Division knowledge, 3,717 Marines, 1,816 troopers and a pair of,064 sailors have been discharged for refusing to get vaccinated. However federal courts this yr have blocked navy companies from punishing personnel who’ve refused the vaccines on non secular grounds.

McCarthy offered the vaccine mandate deal as an indication of how he would lead the Home as speaker. He additionally rebutted conservative criticism over his attendance at a White Home state dinner for French President Emmanuel Macron.

“That is the issues that we’ll have with the brand new Republican majority,” McCarthy instructed Fox Information.

“If someone desires to argue about whether or not I will signify this nation proper and respect the very first ally that helped us create this nation, I do not assume they’ve their hearts in the proper place.”