Governor Stitt Issues Statement in Support of Ending Covid-19 Vaccine Mandate for U.S. Military

Governor Kevin Stitt released the following statement in support of ending the COVID-19 vaccine mandate for members of the United States military, including National Guard members. The governor’s statement follows the release of the final version of the National Defense Authorization Act yesterday evening.

“I am pleased to see that leaders in Washington are moving to rescind the nonsensical and harmful COVID vaccine mandate for the U.S. military and National Guard members. The president himself has said that the COVID pandemic is over. It’s time for his policies to reflect his words.

“From the very beginning, I have been an outspoken in my belief that getting the vaccine is a personal health decision and mandating it for any group, whether for nurses or for Oklahoma National Guardsmen, is a violation of personal liberties and freedoms. Frankly, these mandates are anti-American. In the case of our Armed Forces, the Biden administration’s vaccine mandate has had negative effects on retaining and recruiting servicemembers, creating a national security issue.

“That’s why one year ago, Attorney General O’Connor and I sued the Biden administration over National Guard vaccine mandates. I was also proud to join Republican governor’s last month in a letter to congressional leadership calling for action to end these mandates for military members.

“I am counting on Congress to take action and finally end the COVID vaccine mandate for our Armed Forces. I will always stand up for the freedoms of those who fight for ours.”

Governor Kevin Stitt and Attorney General John O’Connor filed a federal lawsuit in December 2021 to prohibit the Biden administration from punishing members of the Oklahoma National Guard for not being vaccinated against COVID-19 while in Title 32 status.

On November, 30, 2022, Governor Stitt joined other Republican governors in a letter to the congressional leadership requesting immediate action to remove and prohibit the Biden administration’s COVID vaccine mandate on members of the U.S. Armed Forces.