WATCH: Matt Gaetz UNLEASHES On Defense Sec. Lloyd Austin In Epic Takedown

In a fiery exchange in Congress, Representative Matt Gaetz (R-FL) confronted Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin with a blistering critique over the handling of COVID-19 vaccine mandates within the military, juxtaposed against Austin’s own plea for leniency regarding his unauthorized absence earlier this year.

The confrontation unfolded on Thursday when Austin sought understanding from Congress after it was revealed he had not informed the President of his cancer diagnosis and the complications arising from its treatment, labeling these issues as personal and medical.

“You didn’t tell the president that you had cancer, that you were being treated for cancer, or that the treatment for that cancer had gone wrong because you saw it as personal and medical. And I think a lot of us have empathy for you in that regard,” Gaetz pressed Austin.

“But now that you see how personal medical decisions are, will you call for the re-recruitment, restoration of full rank, and back pay for the 8,600 service members who were VAX mandated out of the military?”

“No, I won’t,” Austin responded.

WATCH:

Gaetz didn’t hold back, accusing Austin of seeking grace and forgiveness from Congress while refusing to extend the same to the service members affected by the vaccine mandate. “Mr. Secretary, you come to us seeking forgiveness but you offer none and it seems as though the pattern is repeated. You make a mistake like on the Vax mandate and here regarding your notification then you get busted.”

The COVID-19 vaccine mandate for the United States military was a policy initiated under the Biden administration, requiring all active-duty military personnel to be vaccinated against COVID-19. The mandate was introduced as part of broader efforts to combat the pandemic and protect the health and readiness of the armed forces. The policy reflected recommendations from public health experts and military leadership, who emphasized the importance of vaccination in maintaining operational readiness and protecting the health of service members.

“President Biden had to sign something into law reversing your VAX mandate. You got busted here, not because you came forward, but because we learned of this through other means. And then after you get busted making a mistake, you want that benefit, but you don’t want to extend it to others,” Gaetz argued.

The mandate was officially announced in August 2021, after the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine received full approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The Department of Defense (DoD) then directed that all members of the military, including active-duty, National Guard, and Reserve personnel, receive the vaccine.

The process for obtaining an exemption was stringent, leading to debates and legal challenges over the balance between individual rights and collective health and safety. Enforcement of the mandate varied across the services, with consequences for refusal ranging from counseling and education efforts to more severe administrative actions, including discharge for those who refused the vaccine without an approved exemption.

The mandate faced significant opposition from some service members and political figures, who argued that it infringed on personal freedoms and autonomy. Many Americans also raised concerns about the potential impact on military readiness, fearing that discharging skilled and experienced personnel for vaccine refusal could harm the force’s capabilities.

In response to ongoing controversies and legislative pressure, the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2022 included provisions that led to the reversal of the COVID-19 vaccine mandate for the military.