The Pentagon has commenced a new assessment of its expired Covid vaccine mandate and has instructed the release of an internal report. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth has ordered an independent review by the National Academy of Public Administration (NAPA) and an internal review to scrutinize the vaccine mandate’s development and execution from January 2020 to January 2023. The Department of War aims to regain trust with service members affected by the policy.
The National Academy of Public Administration (NAPA) will conduct an After-Action Review (AAR) to enhance future policies. The Department of War plans to publish the review’s outcomes to uphold accountability and transparency. The internal panel, led by the Under Secretary of War for Personnel and Readiness, will evaluate the decisions and implementation of the Covid vaccine mandate during the specified period.
Under Secretary of War for Personnel and Readiness Anthony J. Tata expressed the department’s commitment to restoring trust with impacted service members. The actions taken by the department are focused on ensuring transparency and accountability. Secretary Hegseth has mandated full cooperation from all Department of War component heads to support the review panel with necessary documents and personnel. The review’s recommendations will be submitted for appropriate action.
Hegseth has directed the preparation of the report for public release by appointing officials for declassification decisions. The After-Action Review report is set for public release by February 2027, as per the directives. The department’s efforts are geared towards learning from past mistakes and preventing their recurrence in the future.
