US Senate passes $858B defense spending bill that lifts Pentagon vaccine mandate

By Michael Hernandez

WASHINGTON (AA) - The US Senate passed a $858 billion defense spending bill Thursday, sending the legislation to President Joe Biden to be signed into law.

The Senate's 83-11 vote follows a similar bipartisan approval from the House of Representatives for the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) last week as lawmakers prepare to take their winter recess.

The must-pass defense spending package contains a multitude of provisions, including increased spending to bolster Ukraine's defense against Russia's invasion, and rescinds the Pentagon's COVID-19 vaccination mandate, an action adamantly opposed by Biden and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin.

The legislation includes directing Austin to reverse course on his August 2021 memorandum mandating the action.

Democratic Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Jack Reed said he opposes lifting the "legal and binding order," further maintaining that "mandatory vaccination is not a new issue for military personnel."

Amendments introduced in the House making sales of F-16 fighter jets to Türkiye contingent on a series of conditions were removed on Dec. 6 by lawmakers in that chamber.

The omnibus spending bill has a broad array of items, including increasing military basic pay by 4.6%, mandating the Pentagon to transition non-tactical vehicle fleets to zero-emissions vehicles and authorizes $131.7 million in spending for defense research at historically Black colleges and universities.

It also mandates that the Pentagon establish a Civilian Protection Center of Excellence to standardize and improve policies geared toward reducing civilian harm in the Pentagon's military operations and authorizes $25 million for the execution of the plan.

On Ukraine, the bill allocates $800 million to fund what is known as the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative, which supports and aids Ukraine's armed forces and includes more than $6 billion to bolster US military operations in Europe.