Coast Guard used 'digital tool' to more efficiently mass deny religious vax exemptions, Republicans allege

Republicans fear the Coast Guard may have used a "digital tool" to more efficiently deny religious exemption requests for the over 1,200 guardsmen who requested accommodations.

"Religious freedom is protected by the U.S. Constitution and federal law. Despite these protections, information received by Committee Republicans indicates that the adjudication process for exemption applications was a pro forma exercise designed to reach predetermined conclusions—to deny requests and appeals—in nearly every single case," the lawmakers wrote in the letter to Commandant Admiral Linda L. Fagan. Kelly Laco is a politics editor for Fox News Digital.

"The USCG even created a digital tool to assist in more efficiently denying appeals of the vaccine mandate instead of focusing on the merits of each individual case," they said.