IG: Pentagon denied religious exemptions to vaccine mandate too quickly
THE PENTAGON’S INSPECTOR GENERAL SAYS THE PENTAGON MAY HAVE MOVED TOO QUICKLY IN DENYING MILITARY MEMBERS’ RELIGIOUS EXEMPTIONS TO THE DEPARTMENT’S VACCINE MANDATE.
THIS — ACCORDING TO AN INTERNAL MEMO — SENT TO DEFENSE SECRETARY LLOYD AUSTIN IN JUNE — AND LATER OBTAINED BY MILITARY NEWS WEBSITE MILITARY.COM.
IN THE MEMO — THE INSPECTOR GENERAL SAID QUOTE “WE FOUND A TREND OF GENERALIZED ASSESSMENTS RATHER THAN THE INDIVIDUALIZED ASSESSMENT THAT IS REQUIRED BY FEDERAL LAW AND D-O-D AND MILITARY SERVICE POLICIES.”
MASS DENIALS OF EXEMPTION REQUESTS WERE DESCRIBED AS “CONCERNING” — ESTIMATING THE AVERAGE REVIEW TIME WAS JUST 12 MINUTES.
THE MILITARY-DOT-COM REPORT COMES JUST DAYS AFTER THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION URGED A FEDERAL COURT TO ALLOW THE VACCINE MANDATE FOR FEDERAL WORKERS TO TAKE EFFECT.
THE MANDATE WAS ORIGINALLY BLOCKED BACK IN JANUARY — BEFORE BEING REVIVED IN APRIL AND PUT ON HOLD AGAIN IN THE MONTHS SINCE.