(WASHINGTON, Dc.) — CBS News reports that Congress is set to rescind a legal requirement for servicemembers to receive the vaccination against COVID-19. The new bill, headed for a vote this week in Congress, would set the budget for annual defense spending.

Republicans in anticipation of their new House majority in January, pushed the effort on Tuesday night. Rep. Mike Rogers of Alabama, the ranking Republican on the House Armed Services Committee, said that killing the vaccine requirement was critical for the defense bill to make it to the floor.

White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Monday that Mr. Biden told GOP House leadership he would consider lifting the mandate, but Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin had recommended it be kept in place.

Military leaders have noted that the vaccine requirement has dinged recruitment numbers for this year. In addition, over 8,000 active-duty service members were discharged for failure to obey a lawful order when they refused the vaccine.

The reasons for the recruitment slowdown are complex. Many prospects join the military through their schools, institutions that recruiters lost access to during COVID lockdowns.

Military leaders argue that troops have been required to get vaccines for decades, as many as 17 for overseas deployment. In order to maintain the health of the force, recruits arriving at academies or at basic training receive a regimen of vaccinations on their first day, if they don’t have them already. Flu shots, measles, mumps, and rubella are all part of the routine.

The COVID-19 vaccine, however, has had to deal with a unique degree of politicization. House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, Democrat of Maryland, said the DOD made a good decision. “It seems to be very controversial among Republicans in particular. I’m not sure exactly why. Maybe it’s just because the government is telling them that you need to do this,” he said.

The defense spending bill will include $858 billion in funding, a new record. It represents 3.74% of the United States GDP, down from a peak of 4.92% in 2010.

©2022 Cox Media Group