Pentagon Ends Flu Vaccine Mandate for Servicemembers

US soldiers are now free to get the flu. This story appeared in The Logoff, a daily newsletter that helps you stay informed about the Trump administration without letting political news take over your life. Subscribe here. Welcome to The Logoff: Hi readers — Donald Trump announced a last-minute extension to the US-Iran ceasefire on Tuesday, hours before the agreement was set to expire. It’s good news, but it doesn’t offer much clarity about what comes next: The status of negotiations remains up in the air, and Trump has said that the US blockade on Iranian ships and ports will remain in effect. We’ll have more for you on that story once we know more, but for now, here’s another Tuesday story out of the Trump administration that shouldn’t be overlooked: Pete Hegseth’s Defense Department is ending mandatory flu vaccines for soldiers. What happened? On Tuesday, Hegseth announced the end of the US military’s decades-old mandate requiring all DOD personnel to receive annual flu vaccines, which he described as “restoring freedom to our Joint Force.” The mandate was first implemented in 1945, according to the Washington Post, and has been in place continuously since the 1950s. Why the change? In a video announcement, Hegseth connected the flu vaccine mandate with a now-ended policy requiring Covid-19 vaccines for servicemembers, which he described as “denying them simple medical autonomy and the freedom to express their religious convictions.” “If you, an American warrior entrusted to defend this nation, believe that the flu vaccine is in your best interest, then you’re free to take it. The Supreme Court will decide when the police can use your phone to track you The war in Iran didn’t end; it became something new Pete Hegseth’s spiritual leader explains his radical faithPodcast Take a mental break with the newest Vox crossword The Air Quality Index and how to use it, explained This is the title for the native ad The Trump administration launched its tariff refund portal. Will the refunds really happen? A busy day of Iran news, briefly explained. An Israel-Lebanon ceasefire is set to take effect Thursday evening. How the Trump administration is still trying to rewrite January 6 history. Trump tries Iran’s playbook. What the Iran war is doing to the economy, briefly explained. This is the title for the native ad