Texas Governor Abbott denies Pentagon vaccine mandate: “Only President Biden to blame”

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Texas Governor Greg Abbott has informed the Pentagon that he will not impose the Biden administration’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate on the Texas National Guard.

On August 25, Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin called on all branches of the military to ensure the military receives the vaccine as the numbers increase over the summer. Each branch of the military met a different deadline, with the Air Force and Navy expected to comply on November 2 and 28, respectively.

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As Fox reported on Wednesday, five state governors have called on the Pentagon to cancel the vaccine mandate for members of the National Guard, but Abbott sent a letter to Secretary Austin on Thursday stating clearly that he will not apply. the mandate to the military of his State.

FILE – In this file photo from March 16, 2020, Texas Governor Greg Abbott speaks at a press conference in San Antonio. (AP Photo / Eric Gay, file)

“As governor of Texas, I am the commander-in-chief of the militia of this state,” the letter read. “In that capacity, on October 4, 2021, I ordered the Texas Adjutant General to comply with my Order in Council GA-39.”

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“If unvaccinated guards are adversely affected in the state of Texas, they will only be to blame President Biden and his administration,” Abbott said. “The State of Texas will not enforce this latest COVID-19 vaccine warrant against its guards. If the federal government continues to threaten to fund the Texas National Guard, I will deploy all legal tools at my disposal as governor. to defend these American heroes. “

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin speaks during a Senate Armed Services Budget hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, June 10, 2021 (AP Photo / Andrew Harnik)

Secretary Austin had recently threatened to cut federal funding for unvaccinated guards if states don’t comply, but Abbott remains fearless in his position.

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Governor Mark Gordon of Wyoming, Governor Mike Dunleavy of Alaska, Governor Kim Reynolds of Iowa, Governor Tate Reeves of Mississippi and Governor Pete Ricketts of Nebraska have similar positions but have so far called for that the Pentagon rescinds the order rather than forcing the governors to make a difficult decision.

KIN, JAPAN – APRIL 28: A U.S. Navy prepares to receive the Moderna coronavirus vaccine at Camp Hansen April 28, 2021 in Kin, Japan. (Photo by Carl Court / Getty Images) (Getty Images)

“We recognize your right to establish standards of readiness for the National Guard for activation into a Title 10 status,” the Governors’ letter said. However, guidelines dictating whether training in a Title 32 statute can take place, setting punishment requirements for refusing to be vaccinated against COVID-19, and requiring separation from each state’s national guard if unvaccinated exceed your constitutional and statutory authority. “

The military announced that by the December 15 deadline, 96% of active-duty soldiers had received a full COVID-19 vaccination regimen, with the figure rising to 98% after the remaining soldiers received their second injection. Less than 1% of about half a million soldiers outright refused the order.

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Soldiers who refuse the order to be vaccinated without an approved or pending exemption request may face adverse administrative action, including involuntary separation.

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