The US Merchant Marine Academy canceled its COVID-19 vaccine mandate on Friday – two days after The Post broke the story of its ongoing denial of all exemption requests from potential midshipmen.
“As of March 10, 2023, [USMMA] has rescinded the requirement that midshipmen be vaccinated against COVID-19,” a US Maritime Administration spokesperson told The Post.
“Applicants for the Class of 2027 will be admitted without regard to their COVID-19 vaccination status.”
While all Defense Department military academies lifted their vaccine mandates in January after congressional Republicans demanded the Pentagon end the requirement as part of the 2023 National Defense Authorization Act, the USMMA was not covered by that action since it is administered by the Maritime Administration, which falls under the Department of Transportation.
It also came after Rep. Jim Banks (R-Ind.) sent a Tuesday letter to the Kings Point academy’s superintendent demanding the USMMA rescind its “blanket denial,” claiming it was unconstitutional.
“I’m glad the USMMA dropped the mandate three days after my inquiry, but they should’ve gotten rid of it a long time ago and their prohibition on religious exemptions was completely out of bounds,” Banks told The Post on Friday.
“House Republicans will continue to use our majority to ensure that federal institutions end their arbitrary and harmful COVID policies.” . . . (read more on the New York Post)
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