The confirmation on vaccination exemptions came after Rep. Greg Steube, and a handful of other Republican lawmakers sent a letter to Naval Vice Adm. Sean Buck that demanded information on how many exemptions had been granted by the USNA.
One of Steube’s constituents, a current USNA student, reported to him that they were denied a diploma after their religious accommodation request was rejected.
According to a response letter from Buck to the congressmen, 18 midshipmen filed religious exemption requests, and none were granted.
Stuebe responded, “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.”
A preliminary injunction issued by a district court earlier this year delayed the ability of the Navy to separate unvaccinated service members seeking religious accommodations. The case, which is now a class-action lawsuit, is still in the courts.
A spokesperson for the USNA denied that any midshipmen have been refused a commission in a statement to Fox News Digital.