Judge upholds termination of CIA official who played key role in vaccine mandates
A federal judge has upheld the termination of Dr. Terry Adirim, a former CIA official who was instrumental in imposing vaccine mandates on the military.
In 2021, while serving as acting assistant secretary of defense for health affairs, Adirim supported forced COVID-19 vaccinations for all service members. According to court documents, in fact, it was Adirim who gave then-Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin the “life-saving advice” to mandate the shots.
“We’re honest and up-front in acknowledging the department is confronting many of the same challenges that the rest of America is in maximizing vaccine acceptance. We’re using every tool possible to increase vaccination, and we’ll continue to do so from the secretary to the most junior leader,” Adirim said in a 2021 press conference.
The vaccine mandate has been blamed in part for the US military’s decline to its smallest size since World War II. Eight thousand service members were discharged for refusing the shots. They have since been offered reinstatement and backpay by the Trump administration.
Adirim then joined the Biden administration's CIA as director of the Center for Global Health Services, making her the agency’s top-ranking doctor. On April 4th, the Trump CIA fired Adirim, just weeks short of when she would qualify for full retirement benefits. On May 2nd, Adirim sued the agency and its director, John Ratcliffe. She alleged that she was being terminated at the urging of Laura Loomer, who has been conducting opposition research for the Trump administration. Loomer was reportedly the catalyst behind several national security firings last month, and Adirim believes Loomer recommended her termination because of Adirim’s role in vaccine mandates. She accused the CIA of denying her due process and breaching her employment contract.
Not enough evidence
Last week, U.S. District Judge Michael Nachmanoff declined to issue an injunction against Adirim’s termination, saying she lacked evidence. The Justice Department has denied any connection between Laura Loomer’s visit to the White House last month and Adirim’s termination, which came two days later.
“There is no reason other than the close timing of Ms. Loomer’s White House visit and the CIA’s communication of its termination decision to Plaintiff to suggest the two are linked,” the Justice Department said.
