Breaking: Children’s Health Defense Sues DOD Over ‘Sham’ Religious Exemption Policies

The lawsuit accuses the U.S. military of enforcing a “two-part strategy” to deny virtually all religious accommodation requests from service members and recruits. CHD alleges the military’s policy for granting religious exemptions to recruits is “ambiguous.” For acting service members, the process for obtaining a religious exemption from vaccines is a “sham” and “largely theater.”

THE DEFENDER

December 17, 2025

By Michael Nevradakis, Ph.D.

The U.S. military is illegally denying service members’ requests for religious exemptions from required vaccines, according to a lawsuit filed Tuesday by Children’s Health Defense (CHD) against the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD).

The lawsuit accuses the DOD of enforcing a “two-part strategy” to deny virtually all religious accommodation requests from service members and recruits.

According to the complaint, the military’s policy for granting religious exemptions to new recruits is “ambiguous.” For acting service members, the process for obtaining a religious exemption is a “sham” and “largely theater.”

This article was funded by critical thinkers like you.

The Defender is 100% reader-supported. No corporate sponsors. No paywalls. Our writers and editors rely on you to fund stories like this that mainstream media won’t write.

Children's Health Defense® is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Our mission is ending childhood health epidemics by eliminating toxic exposure. We will restore and protect the health of children by eliminating environmental exposures, holding responsible parties accountable, and establishing safeguards to prevent future harm of children's health. Protecting Children. Exposing Harms. Seeking Justice.

Children's Health Defense