House Passes Defense Bill Scrapping COVID Vaccine Mandate

The House passed a defense bill removing the COVID vaccine mandate for military members, citing recruitment challenges. The bill, allocating over $800 billion for National Defense, is expected to pass the Senate and be signed by the President. Republicans argue the mandate harmed recruitment, with over 8,500 active duty members discharged and more than 20,000 National Guardsmen at risk of dismissal. This situation poses a threat to military readiness amid global tensions, particularly with China's military buildup.

What impact did the vaccine mandate have on military readiness according to the text?

How many active duty service members were dismissed for refusing the vaccine?