The U.S. Department of Defense has ended its coronavirus vaccine mandate for the U.S. Military after House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-C…
The U.S. Department of Defense has ended its coronavirus vaccine mandate for the U.S. Military after House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) forced an end to the program last month when the the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), the annual defense policy bill, was passed.
Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin wrote in a memo on Tuesday that he has rescinded the vaccine mandate for the U.S. Military and the National Guard.
“No individuals currently serving in the Armed Forces shall be separated solely on the basis of their refusal to receive the COVID-19 vaccination if they sought an accommodation on religious, administrative, or medical grounds,” the memo said. “The Military Departments will update the records of such individuals to remove any adverse actions solely associated with denials of such requests, including letters of reprimand.”
“The Secretaries of the Military Departments will further cease any ongoing reviews of current Service member religious, administrative, or medical accommodation requests solely for exemption from the COVID-19 vaccine or appeals of denials of such requests,” the memo continued. “Religious liberty is a foundational principle of enduring importance in America, enshrined in our Constitution and other sources of Federal law. Service members have the right to observe the tenets of their religion or to observe no religion at all, as provided in applicable Federal law and Departmental policy.”
Austin said that Service members who were discharged over their refusal to take the vaccine can petition their Military Department’s Discharge Review Boards and Boards for Correction of Military or Naval Records to request a correction to the characterization of their discharge.
