Press Releases

Pentagon fails to meet recruiting goals and then reduces recruitment standards; still over 100,000 servicemembers now at risk of discharge

WASHINGTON, Rep. Jack Bergman joins 47 Republican Members of Congress sending a letter to Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin demanding answers from the Pentagon regarding the effect of the Secretary’s military COVID-19 vaccine mandate on the readiness of America’s Armed Forces.

The letter stated in part, “We write to express our grave concern over the effect of the Department of Defense’s Covid-19 vaccine mandate on the readiness of our Armed Forces, particularly the U.S. Army. As a result of your mandate, eight percent 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.  As a major land war rages in Europe our own military faces a self-imposed readiness crisis.

“Based on the sparse data published by the Department of Army, at least 40,000 National Guardsmen, 20,000 Army Reservists, and at least 15,000 Active Army Soldiers have yet to receive a Covid-vaccine and now face discharge.  The Department of Defense’s own Covid response page indicates that approximately 900,000 soldiers are fully vaccinated out of the 1 million soldiers in the Army, Army Reserve, and Army National Guard.  However, during July testimony before the House Armed Services Committee, the Vice Chief of Staff of the Army claimed that fewer than 20,000 soldiers were unvaccinated.  The Army has not published updated data for months. The opaqueness of the Department continues to frustrate Members of Congress attempting to perform oversight of the Executive Branch. Our repeated inquiries remain unanswered. “

The letter continued, “We urge you to immediately revoke your Covid-19 vaccine mandate for all servicemembers, civilian personnel, and contractors and re-instate those who have already been discharged. Furthermore, we request the following information:

• How many soldiers remain unvaccinated by component, military occupational specialty (MOS), and years of service?
• How many soldiers have filed for religious, medical, and administrative exemptions?
• How many religious, medical, and administrative exemptions have been granted?
• How many airmen, sailors, and marines remain unvaccinated by component and Air Force Specialty Code (AFSC)/Rate/MOS?
• How much will it cost the Department to recruit, train, and PCS replacements for the soldiers facing expulsion for their failure to comply with the vaccine mandate?
• If all remaining unvaccinated soldiers are discharged and the Army continues recruiting at the same rate through the end of this fiscal year, what will be the projected FY23 end strengths of the Army, Army National Guard, and Army Reserve in six months.

Representatives Mike Johnson (LA), Chip Roy (TX), Thomas Massie (KY) Elise Stefanik (NY), Robert Aderholt (AL), Rick Allen (GA), Jim Banks (IN), Jack Bergman (MI), Andy Biggs (AZ), Dan Bishop (NC), Tim Burchett (TN), Ben Cline (VA), Dan Crenshaw (TX), Warren Davidson (OH), Scott DesJarlais (TN), Jeff Duncan (SC), Scott Franklin (FL), Matt Gaetz (FL), Louie Gohmert (TX), Bob Good (VA), Lance Gooden (TX), Garret Graves (LA), Mark Green (TN), Glenn Grothman (WI), Diana Harshbarger (TN), Vicky Hartzler (MO), Clay Higgins (LA), Richard Hudson (NC), Ronny Jackson (TX), Doug Lamborn (CO), Debbie Lesko (AZ), Billy Long (MO), Tracey Mann (KS), Brian Mast (FL), Lisa McClain (MI), Mary Miller (IL), Markwayne Mullin (OK), Greg Murphy (NC), Ralph Norman (SC), Bill Posey (FL), Guy Reschenthaler (PA), John Rutherford (FL), Chris Smith (NJ), Jason Smith (MO), Pete Stauber (MN), Greg Steube (FL), and Jeff Van Drew (NJ) joined the letter.