Dept. of Defense hasn't talked to Oklahoma governor about National Guard vaccine policy

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WASHINGTON — The Pentagon says U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin hasn't spoken to Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt astir the state's National Guard relaxing its COVID-19 vaccine policy.

New Oklahoma National Guard Adjutant General Thomas Mancino sent a memo past week astir the alteration 1 time aft the announcement Mancino would beryllium replacing Gen. Michael Thompson.

“No antagonistic administrative oregon ineligible enactment volition beryllium taken against Guardsmen who garbage the COVID-19 vaccine," Mancino said.

In a quality league Monday, Pentagon Press Secretary John Kirby said Austin hadn't spoken to Stitt astir Mancino's appointment, and that the Department of Defense had the authorization to proceed to enforce the vaccine mandate.

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"It is simply a lawful bid for National Guardsmen to person the COVID vaccine," Kirby said.

"Refusing to bash to that, absent an approved exemption, puts them successful the aforesaid imaginable arsenic active-duty members who garbage the vaccine."

Stitt had antecedently asked Austin to suspend vaccination requirements for defender members.

Mancino's assignment came conscionable earlier Veterans Day erstwhile Thompson was acceptable to talk
at an lawsuit successful Oklahoma City.

Thompson said to media astatine the lawsuit that helium recovered retired astir the assignment connected Twitter, according to KOCO.

However, Thompson wouldn't accidental if helium thought his replacement had to bash with his enforcement of the vaccine mandate.

“The politician had been exploring making a alteration for a fig of months, and (Gen.) Thompson had submitted his resignation,” effectual successful January, said Stitt spokesperson Carly Atchison.

“Once the politician selected (Gen.) Mancino arsenic his replacement, the politician decided to determination up the timeline.”

Mancino’s memo clarifies policy, Lt. Col. Geoff Legler told The Oklahoman, reflecting “the governor’s quality to asseverate his bid authorization implicit the men and women of the Oklahoma National Guard portion they are wrong the state’s borders,” not erstwhile they instrumentality portion successful activities operated by the U.S. Defense Department.

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