The US Navy on Wednesday settled a long-running lawsuit with SEALs and sailors who refused the COVID-19 vaccine on religious grounds.

The Washington Examiner

As a part of the agreement, the Navy will erase the record of sailors who declined to comply with the COVID-19 mandate and protect the servicemembers' careers against discrimination on the promotion board.

First Liberty

The agreement also requires the Navy to pay $1.5M in attorney's fees and publish a public statement on its website about its acceptance of religious beliefs.

USNI News

In 2021, then Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin mandated COVID-19 jabs for servicemembers. However, a district judge in a class action suit quashed the Navy's ability to penalize servicemembers for refusing the mandate — the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the ruling, while the US Supreme Court rejected it.

Military.com

Although the mandate was lifted in 2023, the Fifth Circuit said the case could continue so that the district court "evaluate the Navy's broader religious discrimination because of the mandate."

US Navy Settles COVID Vaccine Lawsuit with SEALs, Sailors

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US Navy Settles COVID Vaccine Lawsuit with SEALs, Sailors

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