The U.S. Navy has reached a settlement in a lawsuit over its COVID-19 vaccine mandate, providing a partial victory for sailors, including Navy SEALs, who refused the vaccine on religious grounds.
The settlement ensures that affected service members will have their records corrected, protecting them from discrimination in promotion boards for the next three years.
The Navy will also restore pre-existing policies around religious exemption requests and provide more training for commanders who review them.
While the settlement does not include an admission of guilt or wrongdoing, the Navy will pay $1.5 million to the plaintiffs’ attorneys for legal fees.
Legal experts see the settlement as a significant step toward holding the military accountable for its handling of religious accommodation requests.
However, some military members believe that future settlements should address full restitution for the harms suffered from the vaccine mandate, including reinstatement of discharged personnel and compensation for career setbacks, lost wages, and healthcare costs.
Multiple lawsuits across different military branches are still ongoing, seeking to address the broader impacts of the vaccine mandate.
The settlement is seen as a technical win, but more needs to be done to address the concerns of affected service members.
