On one front is the foolish and otherwise unlawful implementation and execution of the armed services’ COVID-19 vaccine mandate. Religious accommodation requests to the vaccines have been categorically denied by the military branches. As of February of this year, 25,000 service members have requested the military accommodate their request to forego vaccination in light of their sincerely-held religious beliefs. Less than 10 had been approved, with zero approvals in the Army and Navy.
According to one court, “the Air Force’s process to protect religious rights is both illusory and insincere. In short, it’s just ‘theater.’”1 Another court found the military actively disfavoring religious exemptions: “the mandate treats those with secular exemptions more favorably than those seeking religious exemptions.”2 In other words, the military is openly and proudly hostile to religious service members, forcing them under threat of punishment to choose the vaccines over their faith.
Then there is the unlawful required administration of vaccines authorized under an emergency use authorization (EUA), since the officially “licensed” vaccines remain unavailable. What makes that unlawful? The President must authorize the administration of EUA vaccines to the military – and he hasn’t.