Texas Tuesday sued to block the Pentagon’s vaccine mandate for the Texas National Guard.
It argues the federal government lacks the authority to compel guard members from getting vaccinated.
Abbott, a Republican, added that his “order has been in effect for months now, President [Joe] Biden has muddied the waters with a vaccine mandate from the U.S. Department of Defense,” according to his letter.
“Unless President Biden federalizes the Texas National Guard in accordance with Title 10 of the U.S. Code, he is not your commander-in-chief under our federal or state Constitutions,” Abbott wrote to Norris.
Following a judge’s earlier order rejecting Stitt’s bid, the chief of the Oklahoma National Guard said on Dec. 30 that unvaccinated airmen won’t be allowed to drill.
“The Department of Defense has indicated it will recoup any pay provided to unvaccinated airmen who drill after Jan. 1, 2022,” U.S. Army Brig. Gen. Thomas Mancino announced, adding the Pentagon “can enforce this threat outside of the State of Oklahoma’s control.” Mancino previously said he backed Stitt’s decision that he won’t enforce the mandate.
Starting in August, the Pentagon mandated COVID-19 vaccinations for members of the military. Each service branch is responsible for administering them.
But earlier this week, a federal court granted a preliminary injunction to a group of three-dozen Navy Special Warfare servicemembers, including Navy SEALs, after they sued the Biden administration for denying them vaccine-related religious exemptions.
The Epoch Times has contacted the Department of Defense for comment in response to Abbott’s letter and lawsuit threat.