House Republicans criticize Biden for military COVID-19 vaccine mandate

A group of House Republicans says the Biden administration's military COVID-19 vaccine mandate is "unscientific and divisive" – leading to national security concerns.

The 21 lawmakers, led by North Carolina Reps. Richard Hudson and Dr. Gregory Murphy, addressed their concerns in a letter sent Tuesday to President Biden that further argues that his policies are "effectively handcuffing our nation's ability to respond to global threats."

The use of therapeutics and that the service members are typically young men in top physical condition shows the "rationale no longer exists" to mandate the COVID vaccine, they say in the letter, obtained by Fox News.

"The federal vaccine mandate has been a divisive and not scientifically reasoned public health decision," they also wrote.

The lawmakers also cite studies that appear to show men 18-39 are at a higher risk of developing myocarditis and pericarditis as a result of getting a vaccination and that the vaccine appears to be about 50% effective against Omicron, the active variant of the virus.

The mandate has led to diminishing recruitment numbers, according to the letter, which also argues "such actions that degrade our military preparedness, for no scientific reason whatsoever, places the security of the United States at a significant disadvantage."

Meanwhile, the Army appears to be unlikely to issue exemptions for the vaccine.

The Army has approved only 0.25% of permanent religious exemption requests out of the 8,000 service members who applied.