First Liberty represents several U.S. Air Force service members whose careers and livelihoods are being threatened. Why? Because they are seeking a legal, religious accommodation to the military vaccine mandate. Our attorneys filed a federal lawsuit against the Department of Defense (DoD) and Secretary of the Air Force to stop them from discriminating against our clients. The suit is also filed as a class action to represent all Air Force service members who have been denied accommodation.
The Department of Defense is threatening to punish or separate thousands of America’s military heroes. Discriminating against service members because of their religious beliefs is illegal. It violates the First Amendment to the Constitution, federal law and Department of Defense regulations. The law is clear: All service members have a right to serve our country without having to violate their religious beliefs.
The DoD’s punitive approach is outrageous. It sends the message that if you’re person of faith who aspires to serve your country in uniform, you need not apply. Our men and women in uniform dedicate their lives to keep America free. Forcing them to choose between their religious faith and serving their nation dishonors their sacrifice.
America’s military heroes deserve better. Their careers are on the verge of ruin, which affects their families and their futures—and they need your support.
Thanks to YOU, First Liberty continues to be the greatest hope for victory for military service members, for the heroes and their families who sacrifice so much to protect our freedoms.
Please give today. Your gift will help First Liberty’s legal team deliver a victory for our clients and dozens of Air Force personnel facing religious discrimination.
Under federal law and DoD regulations
service members can seek a religious accommodation
from any requirement—including vaccines—that
burdens their sincerely held religious beliefs.
Learn more about your rights with this one-page
resource from First Liberty’s legal experts.
– First Liberty Director of Military Affairs, Mike Berry
Punishing these service members for seeking religious accommodation isn’t just vindicate. It’s dangerous. At a time of instability and ever-increasing threats around the world, the U.S. military is forcing tens of thousands of our bravest out of the service of their nation because they’ve chosen to live according to their faith.
It defies logic that military leaders would be so willing to purge our fighting force. Harassing and threatening our service members does not help make our nation safer. America’s enemies want nothing more than to see our military distracted rather than focused on real threats to our freedom around the globe. Religious liberty is essential to national security, and our service members deserve better.
It’s clear from what’s happening to Air Force service members that the fight for religious freedom is far from over. Those who vehemently oppose religious expression in the military are constantly finding new ways to target anyone who wants to serve in a manner consistent with their faith.
We simply cannot stand by while more of our military warriors face illegal disciplinary actions.
They fought for us. It is time for us to fight for them. We need to let our heroes know that we have their back in this fight.