Texas Republican Gov. Greg Abbott blasted President Joe Biden in a Twitter post on Tuesday as he spoke out about his recent plans to sue the Biden administration over the Texas National Guard COVID-19 vaccine mandate.
“As commander-in-chief of Texas’ militia, I will not tolerate Biden’s efforts to compel Guardsmen to receive a COVID-19 vaccine,” Abbott wrote.
“That is why I am suing the Biden Admin. over its latest unconstitutional vaccine mandate,” he added.
As commander-in-chief of Texas’ militia, I will not tolerate Biden’s efforts to compel Guardsmen to receive a COVID-19 vaccine.
That is why I am suing the Biden Admin. over its latest unconstitutional vaccine mandate.
Read my full letter:https://t.co/kt4prg1w4c
— Greg Abbott (@GregAbbott_TX) January 4, 2022
Abbott’s letter was sent on Tuesday to Major General Tracy R. Norris, the Adjutant General of the Texas Military Department, to instruct him not to punish Guard members who have chosen not to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.
“As the commander-in-chief of Texas’s militia, I have issued a straightforward order to every member of the Texas National Guard within my chain of command: Do not punish any guardsman for choosing not to receive a COVID-19 vaccine,” the governor wrote in the letter.
“Although my order has been in effect for months now, President Biden has muddied the waters with a vaccine mandate from the U.S. Department of Defense. To clear up any confusion, this letter addresses all Texas guardsmen who are serving in a Title 32 status or a state active duty status,” he added.
In a statement from the governor’s office on Tuesday, Abbott also announced his plans to sue the federal government.
“Unless President Biden federalizes the Texas National Guard in accordance with Title 10 of the U.S. Code, he is not your commander-in-chief under our federal or state Constitutions. And as long as I am your commander-in-chief, I will not tolerate efforts to compel receipt of a COVID-19 vaccine,” the governor wrote.
“Let me be crystal clear: It is the federal government that has put Texas’s guardsmen in this difficult position. As your commander-in-chief, I will fight on your behalf. That is why I am suing the Biden Administration over its latest unconstitutional vaccine mandate,” he added.
As The Daily Wire previously reported:
Abbott did concede the possibility that he would lose, as well as the possibility that President Joe Biden could federalize the National Guard, thus compelling the entire National Guard to get vaccinated under a direct order. “The federal courts have the power to decide whether President Biden violates the U.S. Constitution’s Second Militia Clause by undermining my commander-in-chief power,” Abbott wrote. “I cannot guarantee that the judiciary will grant the relief you deserve. And if President Biden lawfully calls you into the actual service of the United States, then he could order you to receive the COVID-19 vaccine in his newfound role as your commander-in-chief.”
“Win or lose, President Biden must be held accountable for his unconscionable willingness to hollow out the Texas National Guard” Abbott concluded, promising that he would continue to fight on behalf of his National Guardsmen.
Abbott’s lawsuit comes just weeks after a failed effort by Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt to block the vaccine mandate for National Guard members. That lawsuit, which argued some of the same points that Abbott outlined in his letter, was dismissed by a federal judge last week.
The Daily Wire is fighting Joe Biden’s vaccine mandate in federal court. Join us in this fight by signing our petition to OSHA, telling them that you will not comply with this mandate.