Press Statement
For Immediate Release: 1.11.23
Contact: Peyton Luke, media@firstliberty.org
Direct: 972-941-4453
Statement from Military Religious Liberty Expert Mike Berry Regarding Repeal of Military Vaccine Mandate by SECDEF
Washington, D.C.—The following statement may be attributed to Mike Berry, Director of Military Affairs for First Liberty Institute, regarding the Secretary of Defense’s actions regarding the COVID-19 vaccine mandate:
We acknowledge that the Secretary of Defense did as Congress directed. But that is the bare minimum owed to our brave service members. In fact, the Secretary’s memo still permits military commanders to require the vaccine in making decisions regarding unvaccinated service members. There are still far too many in our military who were forced out or are still facing career-ending actions because of the Covid vaccine mandate. America owes it to those who defend our Constitution and our freedoms to ensure they do not lose theirs.
In January 2022, First Liberty Institute and Hacker Stephens LLC won the first injunction against the military’s vaccine mandate in Navy SEALs v. Biden. First Liberty filed the lawsuit and motion for preliminary injunction on behalf of dozens of U.S. Navy SEALs and other Naval Special Warfare personnel. Oral argument in the case at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit is scheduled for February 6, 2023.
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About First Liberty Institute
First Liberty Institute is the largest legal organization in the nation dedicated exclusively to defending religious freedom for all Americans.
To arrange an interview, contact Peyton Luke at media@firstliberty.org or by calling 972-941-4453.