The FY23 NDAA

The FY23 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) is expected to be released very soon and it is expected that the legislation will not contain a requirement that troops be vaccinated against COVID.  A bipartisan agreement among House and Senate negotiators will repeal that directive. The legislation does not dictate what course the Pentagon must take going forward.  Republicans had threatened to vote against the bill if the vaccine requirement was included. Other controversial issues that are stymieing the bill include language to address Sen. Manchin (D-WV)’s pipeline permitting issue.  Democrats previously negotiated a deal with Sen. Manchin granting him a vote on a permitting bill if he voted for the party's climate, tax, and health care legislation, which became the Inflation Reduction Act. Now, Democratic leaders are advocating for language generally consistent with the original Manchin proposal, with some tweaks to accommodate Republicans, to be included in the NDAA text.