Pentagon to convene panel to review COVID-19 vaccine mandate and dismissal of over 8,400 troops

Published Jul 15, 08:07 PM UTC

The Department of Defense announced plans to convene a panel to study its mid-2021 COVID-19 vaccine mandate for all service members and the subsequent dismissal of over 8,400 troops who refused the shots. Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness Anthony Tata will lead the panel, drawing from military and civilian personnel to review decisions from January 2020 through January 2023. The National Academy of Public Administration, a nonpartisan organization, will conduct the after-action review, with findings expected by the end of 2026 and publication by February 2027. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth pledged to declassify related materials. The review aims to establish safeguards against future mandates. The article notes that 2 million service members were vaccinated, over 53,000 filed for exemptions, and at least 8,400 were discharged. Since January 2025, an executive order allowed dismissed troops to rejoin, with 126 returning to service as of June 2025.