This week marked another victory for religious liberty as the U.S. Department of Defense ends its coronavirus vaccine mandate for the U.S. Military. The decision was forced by House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) last month when 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Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin wrote in a memo on Tuesday that he has rescinded the vaccine mandate for the U.S. Military and the National Guard.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, as per the memo.
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.
McCarthy, while serving as House Minority Leader, forced an end to the vaccine mandate last month, stating that the NDAA would “not move” unless the mandate was removed from the bill.
“The end of President Biden’s military COVID vaccine mandate is a victory for our military and for common sense,” McCarthy said in a statement last month. “Last week, I told the president directly: it’s time to end the COVID vaccine mandate and rehire our service members.”
McCarthy also demanded that the administration “correct service records and not stand in the way of re-enlisting any service member discharged simply for not taking the COVID vaccine.”
The decision to end the mandate is a major win for religious liberty and freedom of choice. The right to observe the tenets of one’s religion or to observe no religion at all is a fundamental part of our Constitution and other sources of Federal law. It is a right that should be respected and upheld by all.
It’s also important to note that the mandate had already had negative consequences for our military, such as the Army and Navy missing their 2022 recruitment goals by thousands of service members. As such, it is critical that the administration correct service records and not stand in the way of re-enlisting any service member discharged simply for not taking the COVID vaccine.
In the end, it is important to remember that the right to make decisions about one’s own health and medical care is fundamental in our society. All individuals should have the freedom to make their own decisions, including those in the military. The end of the COVID-19 vaccine mandate for the U.S. Military is a major win for religious liberty and freedom of choice.
Erica Carlin is an independent journalist, opinion writer and contributor to several news and opinion sources. She is based in Georgia.
