Protect Military Religious Rights: End Flu Shot Mandates!

On June 30, thousands of Americans watched the groundbreaking documentary Duty to Disobey which was screened in over 100 theaters across the nation. The film tells the stories of the men and women who faced intimidation, punishment, career destruction and discharge for refusing to comply with the COVID-19 vaccine mandates imposed throughout the armed forces.

In April, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth announced that flu shots would no longer be mandated for our armed services. Just two months later, that policy was rescinded after an alleged flu outbreak at an Air Force base in Texas. Mainstream media was quick to blame the outbreak on the policy change with no evidence to substantiate that claim.

Our military personnel are now back in the position of having their religious freedom trampled when it comes to vaccines.

As America turns 250, we must honor our military forces by adopting the White House Religious Liberty Commission’s recommendations to protect the religious rights of those who serve our country, including the warriors of conscience who refused to comply with the COVID shot mandate.

Those recommendations are:

1. Order the Department of War to update and disseminate religious liberty training for military leaders and JAG officers, maintain full applicability of the Religious Freedom Restoration Act in the military, reverse Obama and Biden-era restrictions on religious practice and expression, and elevate the importance of spiritual fitness in military readiness.
2. Order the Department of War to streamline and improve the religious accommodation process.
3. Continue efforts to restore the retirement or re-enlistment eligibility of service members who lost employment, health insurance, pensions, and other benefits because of their religious beliefs concerning the COVID-19 vaccine.

The warriors of conscience who refused to comply with the COVID shot mandate have gained valuable insights on the critical nature of ensuring religious freedom within our military. They should be involved in all steps of the process outlined and recommended by the Commission.

Take action now to urge President Trump and your federal lawmakers to fully and wholly adopt the three recommendations from the Religious Liberty Commission, to ensure the participation of the warriors of conscience in establishing and implementing religious training throughout our armed services, and to reinstate the policy of optional flu shots for our armed forces. Consider taking an additional step by calling the White House Comment Line at 202-456-1111 or the Switchboard at 202-456-1414.