Joaquin Castro

06/18/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 06/18/2026 23:01

Castro Statement on Flu Outbreak at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio

June 18, 2026

Castro Statement on Flu Outbreak at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio

Today, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) released the following statement:

"After Secretary Hegseth scrapped the military's flu vaccine mandate, it was only a matter of time before an outbreak occurred. It was a reckless decision that put troops in harm's way and undermined our military readiness. At the Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, nearly 160 servicemembers are now ill. I am especially concerned by the tragic death of a trainee this past week. My office has requested the Department of Defense provide a full accounting of the outbreak and investigate the circumstances of the trainee's death. For the wellbeing of our servicemembers and community, public health policies must be guided by science, not politics."

Joaquin Castro published this content on June 18, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on June 19, 2026 at 05:01 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]