US Naval Academy Denied All Religious Exemption Requests for COVID-19 Vaccine

This May 10, 2007 file photo shows the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md. (AP Photo/Kathleen Lange)

The U.S. Naval Academy (USNA) confirmed on Dec. 1 that it denied all religious exemption requests filed by midshipmen for the COVID-19 vaccine mandate.

The revelation came in response to a Nov. 29 letter (pdf) from Rep. Greg Steube (R-Fla.) and other Republican representatives seeking further information about USNA students allegedly denied diplomas after refusing the vaccine.

In their Tuesday letter, the congressmen had charged, “Commandant of Midshipmen and their Judge Advocate General Officer (JAG) are denying Midshipmen from graduating due to their refusal to take the COVID-19 vaccination on religious grounds and are held as a delayed graduate until the injunction preventing the separation of Naval personnel is lifted.”

In his Thursday response, however, Naval Vice Adm. Sean Buck replied, “To date, no unvaccinated midshipmen have been denied a diploma.”

As for religious exemptions to the COVID-19 vaccine, according to Buck, 18 USNA midshipmen filed such requests, none of which were approved.

“Of those 18, 16 midshipmen appealed that determination to the Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) as the final review authority for these requests, the other two elected to receive the vaccination,” he added. “Thirteen of these appeals have been denied as of this date, one elected to receive the vaccination, and two are pending CNO review.”

Responding to Buck’s letter in an interview with Fox News, Steube said: “Of all the religious exemption requests submitted by midshipmen at the Naval Academy for the COVID-19 vaccine, not a single one has been approved. My constituent has already been told she can’t receive a diploma and graduate due to her status as it relates to the COVID-19 vaccine. The Navy is simply holding these individuals until the injunction preventing the separation of naval personnel is lifted.”

The congressman further questioned, “Since the Naval Academy seems to be denying that they are withholding diplomas and commissioning from otherwise qualified individuals, will the Naval Academy commit to provide diplomas and commission all qualified midshipmen, regardless of COVID-19 vaccination status?”

On Thursday, however, a USNA spokesperson denied Steube’s claims of discrimination.

“There have been no midshipmen separated from the United States Naval Academy, nor denied a commission, for declining the COVID-19 vaccine,” Cmdr. Alana Garas told Fox News. “There are a handful of midshipmen who have filed religious exemption requests to the COVID-19 vaccine.”

Earlier this year, a preliminary injunction that initially prevented the punishment or involuntary separation of 35 Navy SEALs who had sought religious exemptions to the vaccine mandate was expanded to include all naval personnel.

In issuing the order, U.S. District Judge Reed O’Connor reasoned that all members who applied for such exemptions “have all been harmed in essentially the same way.”

That case is still in the courts.