U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin released a memo formally rescinding the vaccine mandate for military service members.

This memo comes as Congress passed a law directing the Department of Defense to repeal the mandate last month.

This is a positive first step that would not have been possible without First Liberty’s litigation efforts. But there is still much work to be done to ensure thousands of our service members are not stripped of their religious liberty.

While the law lifts the mandate, it gives the commanders discretion to require vaccines when making decisions about operational matters regarding unvaccinated service members.

This action leaves thousands of military personnel vulnerable. They could face restrictive deployment decisions, threats to future promotion and potentially be subject to unjust punishment.

That’s why First Liberty’s lawsuit on behalf of thousands of our nation’s heroes is just as important now as it was when we filed it in early 2022.

Danielle Runyan, Senior Counsel, breaks down what this decision will mean for thousands of religious service members:

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Early in 2022, First Liberty won an injunction and class certification that protected not just our Navy SEALs but everyone in the Navy who requested a religious accommodation. However, the U.S. Navy continues to fight this decision and we're going to argue this case at the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals on February 6th.

America owes it to those who defend our Constitution and our First Freedom to ensure they don’t lose the rights they so faithfully protect. They have sacrificed so much for us, and now it’s our turn to fight and win for them.