Texas Governor Greg Abbott bucked the Biden administration, big time. The Republican made it clear that he’s not going to blindly follow Biden’s lead by saying, “The Governor of Texas does not take orders from the President of the United States.” He then doubled down and followed up that statement with a lawsuit.
“The Governor of Texas does not take orders from the President of the United States,” Abbott said in a statement.
“President Biden must be held accountable for his unconscionable willingness to hollow out the Texas National Guard with another illegal vaccine mandate. As the commander-in-chief of Texas’ militia, I will deploy every legal tool in defense of these American heroes,” he added.
The Governor of Texas does not take orders from the President.
President Biden must be held accountable for his unconscionable willingness to hollow out the Texas Guard with another illegal vaccine mandate.
I will deploy every legal tool in defense of these American heroes. pic.twitter.com/PdxCghkQ3b
— Greg Abbott (@GregAbbott_TX) February 8, 2022
Abbott warned Biden back in January that he would not allow National Guard vaccine mandates in his state:
“As commander-in-chief of Texas’ militia, I will not tolerate Biden’s efforts to compel Guardsmen to receive a COVID-19 vaccine,” Abbott wrote.
“That is why I am suing the Biden Admin. over its latest unconstitutional vaccine mandate,” he added.
As commander-in-chief of Texas' militia, I will not tolerate Biden's efforts to compel Guardsmen to receive a COVID-19 vaccine.
That is why I am suing the Biden Admin. over its latest unconstitutional vaccine mandate.
Read my full letter:https://t.co/kt4prg1w4c
— Greg Abbott (@GregAbbott_TX) January 4, 2022
In a letter sent in January Major General Tracy R. Norris, the Adjutant General of the Texas Military Department, Abbott told him not to punish Guard members who have chosen not to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.
“As the commander-in-chief of Texas’s militia, I have issued a straightforward order to every member of the Texas National Guard within my chain of command: Do not punish any guardsman for choosing not to receive a COVID-19 vaccine,” the governor wrote in the letter.
“Although my order has been in effect for months now, President Biden has muddied the waters with a vaccine mandate from the U.S. Department of Defense. To clear up any confusion, this letter addresses all Texas guardsmen who are serving in a Title 32 status or a state active duty status,” he added.
In a statement released with the January letter, Abbott also placed the blame for the vaccine mandate squarely on Biden and the federal government.
“Unless President Biden federalizes the Texas National Guard in accordance with Title 10 of the U.S. Code, he is not your commander-in-chief under our federal or state Constitutions. And as long as I am your commander-in-chief, I will not tolerate efforts to compel receipt of a COVID-19 vaccine,” the governor wrote.
“Let me be crystal clear: It is the federal government that has put Texas’s guardsmen in this difficult position. As your commander-in-chief, I will fight on your behalf. That is why I am suing the Biden Administration over its latest unconstitutional vaccine mandate,” he added.
Erica Carlin is an independent journalist, opinion writer and contributor to several news and opinion sources. She is based in Georgia.