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Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has notified seven Republican governors that their state’s National Guard troops must be vaccinated against the novel coronavirus.
In a message sent to the state leaders, Austin said that his position gives him the authority to implement the vaccine mandate “regardless of duty status.” The governors had previously asked Austin to drop the mandate, arguing that he had no power to enforce it among Guardsmen who are under state authority.
Continued refusal to comply with the mandate, Austin said, will “lead to a prohibition on participation in drills, training and other duty conducted under title 32 and will jeopardize the member’s status in the National Guard.”…
