Milley tests positive for COVID-19

Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Mark Milley tested positive for COVID-19 on Sunday and is isolating. 

Col. Dave Butler, spokesperson for the Joint Staff, said in a statement that Milley is experiencing “very minor symptoms” and can perform his duties remotely. 

Butler said Milley is fully vaccinated against the coronavirus and has received a booster vaccine dose.

All other Joint Chiefs of Staff, except for one, tested negative for COVID-19. Officials have not said who that one was.

Milley’s most recent contact with President Biden was at the funeral for Ret. Gen. Raymond T. Odierno, who died in October at the age of 67. He tested negative several days prior to the funeral and every day following contact with Biden until Sunday.

Also on Monday, the Marine Corps announced that its Commandant Gen. David Berger tested positive for COVID-19.

“The performance of his duties will remain unaffected,” commandant spokesperson Maj. Eric Flanagan said in a statement to The Hill.

Milley and Flanagan are the latest top Defense officials to test positive for COVID-19 this month. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin announced on Jan. 2 he had tested positive. He also experienced mild symptoms and worked remotely.

Pentagon press secretary John Kirby reported last week that Austin tested negative and began returning to the office.

—Updated at 12:17 p.m.