Pentagon is considering an appeal of order that prevents the COVID-19 vaccine mandate

After a court judge this week prevented the military from disciplining a group of Navy SEALs who sought religious exemptions from the Pentagon's COVID-19 vaccine mandate, officials at the Pentagon are weighing their options.

"Of course, we're aware of the injunction," Pentagon spokesman John Kirby told reporters in Washington on Tuesday. "We're analyzing it and in discussions with the Department of Justice as to what options might be available to us going ahead."

The suit was launched last year by a group of Navy members who said the administration's religious exemption process was a fraud because none had been granted.

"The Navy has a religious discrimination process, but it appears to be mostly theatrical. In recent memory, the Navy has not granted a religious exemption to any vaccine. As he filed a preliminary injunction against the military branch, O'Connor wrote, "It just rubber stamps each denial."

5 Jan 2022