House Republicans want political payback for COVID vaccine mandates for troops, but the White House is refusing to back down

• The White House signaled it will defend the fallout from the Pentagon's COVID-19 vaccine mandate.
• The Biden administration blasted House Republicans for trying to speed the reinstatement of troops who refused the shot.

The White House on Monday dug into its defense of COVID-19 vaccine mandates for American service members, signaling a fight with House Republicans that will loom large over funding for the Pentagon.

In a lengthy statement, the White House said it would not back down from a series of penalties that service members incurred if they refused to get vaccinated. House Republicans have for months pressured the Pentagon to revisit the punishment defiant service members incurred, including those who were discharged as a result of their decision.

Congress previously forced the Pentagon to rescind the COVID-19 vaccine mandate in January. At issue now is how and to what, if any, extent reinstatement or other assistance will be offered to troops who defied the requirement. Republicans have repeatedly pushed for the reinstatement of service members that were discharged as a result of defying the mandate.

More than 8,000 active-duty service members were kicked out for refusing to get the vaccine. The disagreement also underlines that as the US moves past the pandemic, debates about the government response will continue on.

As Military.com previously reported, vaccine-related amendments to the massive bill funding the US' defense largely passed on party lines. Each year, Congress must pass a massive bill funding the Pentagon. Lawmakers often tack on funding restrictions or other requirements onto the bill.

The White House took particular issue with a series of vaccine-related policies that would require the Pentagon to notify discharged service members if they were kicked out solely for defying the vaccine mandate, ensure that a review board gives priority to any COVID-19-related discharge requests, and end a policy requiring service members who attended military Service Academy such as West Point to pay back their tuition if they refused to get vaccinated.

The academy policy "sets a dangerous precedent that not following lawful orders is an option for service members, which will be deleterious to good order and discipline as well as unit cohesion," the White House said in a statement of policy.

The Biden administration also took issue with giving vaccine-related discharges a priority review. In keeping with practice, the statement was released by the Office of Management and Budget unsigned. These types of statements are how the White House influences ongoing legislative fights.

"Because it would place the review of petitions [...] above the consideration of all other Boards of Correction of Military Records actions, which could include pressing issues related to military sexual trauma, PTSD related to military service, and matters related to pay and benefits."

It's unclear what the outlook will be for the vaccine-related policies. The Republican-led bill still needs to be voted on by the full House. The Senate, where Democrats retain a small majority, is expected to pass its own version of the bill. Biden must then sign the compromise into law.

Democrats have repeatedly argued against automatically reinstating service members who refused the shot. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin has also defended the mandate, arguing that it saved lives.

"The Department's COVID-19 vaccination efforts will leave a lasting legacy in the many lives we saved, the world-class Force we have been able to field, and the high level of readiness we have maintained, amidst difficult public health conditions," Austin wrote in a letter that announced the end of the mandate.