Texas Gov. Greg Abbott told the Pentagon he will not impose the COVID-19 vaccine mandate for the Texas National Guard.
As previously reported by Human Events News, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin mandated vaccines for all military branches. Each branch of the military observed a different deadline.
“As Governor of Texas, I am the commander-in-chief of this State’s militia,” Abbott’s letter reads, per Fox News. “In that capacity, on October 4, 2021, I ordered the Adjutant General of Texas to comply with my Executive Order GA-39.”
“If unvaccinated guardsmen suffer any adverse consequences within the State of Texas, they will have only President Biden and his Administration to blame,” Abbott continued. “The State of Texas will not enforce this latest COVID-19 vaccine mandate against its guardsmen. If the federal government keeps threatening to defund the Texas National Guard, I will deploy every legal tool available to me as Governor in defense of these American heroes.”