Former Air Force Major Praises Secretary Hegseth's Efforts to Undo Biden's Vaccine Mandate
Kacy Dixon, a former Air Force Major, commends Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth for his efforts to reverse the effects of the controversial military vaccine mandate.
Kacy Dixon, a 16-year veteran and former Air Force Major, has publicly praised Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth for his actions to address the fallout from President Biden’s 2021 executive order mandating COVID-19 vaccinations for active duty military personnel. Dixon, who left the military after refusing the vaccine due to her pregnancy at the time, expressed her approval of Hegseth’s recognition of the mandate as ‘unlawful’ and the steps being taken to reinstate affected service members.
The vaccine mandate, which was in effect until January 2023, led to the discharge of approximately 8,700 service members, impacting military morale and readiness. Many who sought exemptions were denied, and those discharged faced varying conditions, from honorable to ‘other than honorable’. Dixon highlighted the devastating effect on the military, stating, “This mandate devastated our military in many ways. In terms of morale, there were many service members who were aware of this legal issue, who knew that this was an unlawful order.”
In an effort to rectify the situation, President Trump signed an executive order in the first week of his presidency to begin reinstating those affected. Hegseth has been actively working on these efforts, recently signing a memorandum to guide the review of affected cases. Dixon finds the Department of Defense’s (DOD) shift in attitude to be a significant morale booster.
Congressman Darrell Issa and other lawmakers have also supported Hegseth’s leadership in repairing the damage caused by the mandate. However, Dixon acknowledges the challenges ahead, including the rank disparity for those reentering the military and logistical hurdles in reinstating members.
Andrew Cherkasy, a former Air Force JAG and co-founder of Golden Law, Inc., emphasized the complexity of reversing discharges not directly linked to vaccine refusal but to related misconduct. As the DOD works to undo the impact of the mandate, the focus remains on restoring the livelihoods and careers of the affected service members.