The military's COVID-19 vaccination mandate is off the books, but the fallout from the controversial order is far from over.
Top-ranking Pentagon officials and leaders from each military service told lawmakers Tuesday that the Defense Department is still reviewing for potential “disciplinary procedures” numerous cases of active-duty troops who refused the shot while the mandate was in force. Those service members, officials said, could still face penalties for refusing lawful orders given by their commanders.
“What’s the point? If we rescinded the mandate, what’s the point of continuing to review the cases?” asked Mr. Banks. Other Republicans on the panel accused the Pentagon of willfully ignoring the damage caused by the controversial mandate, which was strongly backed by Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin. “They’re reviewing the cases because … they [disobeyed] a lawful order,” Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness Gilbert Cisneros told the panel. “In order to maintain good order and discipline, it’s very important that our service members go and follow orders when they are lawful. And there were thousands that did not. And so the services are going through a process to review those cases to determine what needs to be done.
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