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A Trump-appointed judge issued a ruling Thursday on a policy requiring U.S. Air Force members to receive the Covid-19 vaccine or be dismissed from military service.
Judge Matthew McFarland, a federal judge from Ohio, temporarily blocked the Biden administration’s strict Covid-19 vaccine enforcement for airmen, according to Fox News.
According to the Air Force Times, the judge has criticized the Air Force for rejecting medical or religious exemptions and accommodations without carefully considering each member’s request.
McFarland said, “Members face the same injury: violation of their constitutional freedom by defendants’ clear policy of discrimination against religious accommodation requests.”
The judge’s Thursday ruling said, “The Court issues a TEMPORARY RESTRAINING ORDER prohibiting Defendants from enforcing the vaccine mandate against any Class Member, to expire 14 days from the entry of this Order.”
McFarland directed the defendants of the case to submit a 10-page supplemental brief by July 21 explaining why his temporary ruling should not be extended, according to The Gateway Pundit.
Although 97 percent of Air Force members are vaccinated, the judge’s ruling could significantly impact those seeking religious or medical exemptions.
President Donald Trump shared news of McFarland’s ruling on Truth Social Sunday. The 45th president has previously clashed with the Biden administration’s Covid-19 requirements for America’s military members and Biden’s plan to dismiss any members who refuse to be vaccinated.
Trump suggested that after the November midterms, “a Republican Congress should pass a bill rehiring every single member of the military who was cruelly and wrongfully terminated by Joe Biden and his ridiculous COVID mandate.” He added, “And force the Pentagon to give these patriots an apology and full back pay.”