Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said he stands by DOD’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate, despite growing pressure from some Republican governors and lawmakers.

“We lost a million people to this virus,” Austin told reporters traveling with him over the weekend. “A million people died in the United States of America. We lost hundreds in DOD. This mandate has kept people healthy.”

Thousands of active duty forces have been discharged since Austin ordered the mandate last year.

There are several court cases pending related to the mandate and how religious waivers have been issued.

Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Savannah L. Waters