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 review its COVID-19 vaccine mandate for service members, which led to the dismissal of over 8,400 troops who refused the shots. Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness Anthony Tata will lead the effort, drawing from military and civilian personnel. The panel will examine decisions, coordination, planning, and execution of the mandate from January 2020 through January 2023. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth pledged to declassify related materials. The National Academy of Public Administration will conduct the after-action review, with findings expected by end of 2026 and publication by February 2027. The article notes that 2 million service members were vaccinated, over 53,000 filed for exemptions, and 126 dismissed troops had returned to service by June 2025 under a Trump executive order. The review aims to establish safeguards against future mandates.