The U.S. military branches have been found to violate their own rules when it comes to handling requests for exemptions from the COVID-19 vaccine mandate, according to a report by the Pentagon's inspector general. The Army and Air Force were particularly slow in processing exemption requests, with average processing times well beyond the required time frames.
The report revealed that in a sample of 12 religious exemption requests submitted to the Army, the average processing time was 192 days, significantly longer than the Army's requirement of completing reviews within 90 days. Similarly, the Air Force took an average of 168 days to review 35 religious accommodation requests, surpassing its review requirement of 30 days.
These prolonged delays in addressing requests for religious accommodations have raised concerns as they could potentially impact a service member's job placement and hinder the command's ability to make informed deployment and assignment choices, according to Robert Storch, the Pentagon's inspector general.
On the other hand, the Marines and Navy generally met the timeline requirements outlined in the report. The Air Force and Army, however, are now reviewing the report's findings and will comply with any changes required by the Department of Defense.
Officials from the branches attribute the spike in exemption requests to the announcement of the COVID-19 vaccine mandate in 2021. What was initially a few requests quickly escalated to thousands, overwhelming the military. Despite the overwhelming majority of requests being rejected, often with form letters, the audit found no evidence of a lack of individual review by decision authorities.
Out of the 116 requests analyzed by the inspector general as of June 2022, only 11 were approved, with nine being approved due to voluntary discharge or retirement. The remaining requests were denied based on the finding that vaccination was the “least restrictive means” to further compelling military interests, which is an exception to religious freedom allowed in federal law.
Some requests were also canceled because personnel either separated or became vaccinated before a decision was made. The report highlights the need for timely and individualized processing of exemption requests to ensure compliance with federal law and respect for religious freedom.
The audit was initiated in early 2022 after the inspector general received complaints regarding the military's handling of exemption requests. Former inspector general Sean O'Donnell had previously expressed concerns to Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, stating that the military was violating federal law by assessing exemption requests generally rather than on an individual basis.
As the military continues to navigate the challenges posed by the COVID-19 vaccine mandate, it is crucial that they prioritize timely and thorough reviews of exemption requests to uphold both legal requirements and the rights of service members.
