Hinds Today

U.S. Senators John Thune and Cindy Hyde-Smith have written a letter to U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, urging him to provide answers regarding the Department of Defense's implementation of conscience protections for servicemembers or civilians involved in carrying out the Biden administration's abortion leave and travel policy. The Senators are concerned about the impact this policy may have on the sincerely held moral and religious convictions of those involved.

In their letter, Thune and Hyde-Smith emphasize the sacrifices made by military leaders who answer the call to serve the nation. They argue that these individuals already face significant challenges and it would be a mistake to further burden them by involving them in the Biden administration's abortion leave and travel policy. They believe that the responsibility for implementing this policy should rest solely on Secretary Austin.

The Senators also draw attention to the departure of experienced professionals from the armed forces who chose to follow their conscience when their pandemic-era religious accommodation requests were rejected. They highlight the importance of learning from past mistakes and respecting the deeply held convictions of servicemembers in order to avoid further separations.

Thune and Hyde-Smith request information on the Department of Defense's implementation of conscience protections for those involved in carrying out the abortion leave and travel policy. They ask Secretary Austin to provide answers to specific questions within 30 days.

It remains to be seen how Secretary Austin will respond to this call from Senators Thune and Hyde-Smith. The concerns raised in their letter highlight the ongoing debate surrounding abortion policy and its impact on the military.