In response to a congressional action that removed the vaccine requirement as part of the fiscal year 2023 National Defense Authorization Act, the Navy has announced that it will no longer consider COVID-19 vaccination status when making decisions about personnel deployment.
First Liberty Institute is representing 4,000 Navy servicemembers who filed religious accommodation requests against taking the shot. The Christian law firm has said the Biden administration and the Pentagon have pursued "a punitive and vindictive approach" against them.
"We're certainly hopeful it's a step in the right direction," associate council Holly Randall says about the new standardized guidance. "We have seen the effects of the vaccine mandate and punishment for not being vaccinated over the last year and a half, so we're glad that there's now a policy in writing, and we want to see how this plays out among our class members as time goes on."
In the meantime, Randall asserts that First Liberty will not stop fighting until it is completely assured that the Navy will respect religious liberty.
