The Pentagon is pausing a plan to offer coronavirus vaccines to Guantanamo Bay detainees, according to Department of Defense Press Secretary John Kirby he said Saturday.
Driving the news: The Pentagon had planned to begin vaccinating detainees voluntarily, various media reported earlier this week. The plan angered some Republicans, who called it “inexcusable and anti-American. ”
What it says: “No Guantanamo detainee has been vaccinated, “Kirby tweeted.
- “We are pausing the plan to move forward as we review force protection protocols. We remain committed to our obligations to keep our troops safe.”
The big picture: It is unclear how many people at Guantanamo have been infected with COVID-19.
- “The lack of vaccinations has been a major obstacle to resuming war crimes hearings at the base’s Camp Justice premises,” including that of Khalid Shaikh Mohammed and other defendants accused of helping carry out the attacks on the September 11, the New York Times reported.
- About 40 inmates remain detained in the Guantanamo Bay military prison in Cuba.
- President Biden said during his campaign that he supported the closure of the prison, but offered no concrete plan on how he would do it.