Waltz Says Vax Mandates are ‘Crippling’ National Guard

Republican lawmakers continue to warn against COVID-19 vaccine mandates, and Florida Rep. Michael Waltz (R) argues that it could “cripple” the National Guard.

“Crippling our military over the vaccine mandate is irresponsible,” Waltz argues in a new Op-Ed for Fox News, sharing that the Biden administration should support it no longer.

Republican lawmakers have largely voiced their opposition to vaccine mandates with Florida GOP lawmakers supporting efforts to prevent them in the Sunshine State.

Rep. Waltz, a veteran, has penned an Op-Ed, criticizing the Biden administration over its vaccine mandates, warning that it could be “crippling” to the National Guard.

“For decades, the National Guard has served as the backbone of saving Americans across the country in times of crisis,” Waltz penned, writing that “whether it’s helping coordinate hurricane responses, training our allies abroad, responding to domestic civil unrest, fighting wildfires, or establishing COVID-19 field hospitals and treating patients – they’ve been there for us.”

However, Waltz warns that the United States finds itself in a period where “when the next crisis comes to our shores, the U.S. will lack the number Guardsmen and women to come to our rescue.”

“June 30 marked Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin’s arbitrary deadline for members of the National Guard and Reserves to receive the COVID-19 vaccine despite Congress’ mandate that the Department of Defense establish uniform procedures under which service members can be exempted,” Waltz added, calling it “a… reckless decision.”

“Currently, every branch of the U.S. military is struggling mightily to recruit men and women to join its ranks. This year is shaping up to be one of the worst recruiting years for our military since the Vietnam war.”

Waltz himself is vaccinated, and he contracted COVID-19, expressing that “to cripple our military, which is mostly comprised of healthy young men and women, is irresponsible.”