‘WE’RE STILL WORKING ON IT’: As of this morning, it’s unclear if the compromise language in the National Defense Authorization Act that would rescind the COVID-19 vaccine mandate for U.S. troops will survive the final version of the annual defense policy bill.

House and Senate negotiators included the lifting of the mandate, a Republican priority, in the 4,440-page text of the bill released Tuesday night, but yesterday, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) indicated that the provision is still in flux. “COVID vaccines have saved lives. The military has had requirements about other vaccines for decades, and there hasn’t been a problem,” Schumer said. “So it’s befuddling, but we’re still working on it.”