With out intervention, Chief Warrant Officer 3 Brandon Budge will likely be separated from the Military on September 1 for his objection to the protection and efficacy of the COVID-19 shot in 2021, which was decided by Protection Secretary Pete Hegseth to be “unlawful as implemented.”
In March, with the hope of restoring his profession, the Black Hawk helicopter pilot was suggested by Gen. Randy George, the Military’s Chief of Workers, to submit his request for reduction to the Board for Correction of Army Information (BCMR). And on the time, the final promised he would “get it mounted,” CW3 instructed The Gateway Pundit in a previous article. However as an alternative, his application was denied on Might 22.
Following CW3 Budge’s interview, J.M. Phelps emailed a letter on to Gen. George on June 5 with a request for remark. On June 11, Phelps additionally emailed a letter on to Secretary of the Military Daniel Driscoll, calling his consideration to the letter despatched to Gen. George and extra. The inquiries have been ignored by each officers.
On X, Dr. Chase Spears, a retired U.S. Military public affairs officer, author and host of the Finding Your Spine podcast, referred to as for “Much less discuss, extra motion.”
Prime navy leaders have stated what we wish to hear. However on many points, they’re not following via with motion.
Within the Military, we had a saying that after 90 days you personal the unit and may’t blame the final man anymore.
It’s time to see these wronged underneath the final regime made… https://t.co/zFsiY9Pgkp
— Chase Spears (@DrChaseSpears) June 14, 2025
Following his submit, Dr. Spears expressed to The Gateway Pundit that Gen. Randy George, Daniel Driscoll, and others ought to have the “the ethical crucial” to assist everybody who serves within the Military, however admitted “this isn’t the case right here.”
The retired public affairs officer stated, “Gen. George’s promise to assist CW3 Budge proves nothing greater than phrases he had no intention of performing on.” All through his 20-year profession, Dr. Spears noticed that too many senior navy officers “say what you wish to hear, however aren’t really prepared to behave upon what they are saying.”
Dr. Spears doesn’t anticipate Gen. George to honor his phrase to CW3 Budge or reply to the letter by J.M. Phelps. “I’d be shocked, since you hardly ever discover the type of humility in a basic to overtly admit that he promised one thing however didn’t ship,” he defined. “Most senior navy officers, even when they know that what they’ve accomplished is fallacious, they don’t have the ethical fortitude to truly take the following step and make it proper. The system used to advertise them to the senior ranks ensures it.”
What’s equally regarding to Dr. Spears is that “Gen. George is a holdover basic identical to the opposite generals nonetheless within the Pentagon.” And in response to him, “Many of those holdovers acquired their promotions by prosecuting COVID-19 insurance policies underneath the Biden regime, participating in punishing troopers, like CW3 Budge, who really confirmed impartial thought and have been prepared query the efficacy and threat of the shot.”
“Solely after the very fact the tide turned have been they prepared to sign empathy for troops wronged on their watch, however up to now actions fail to match their phrase,” he supplied. “They might have dropped all of the rhetoric from the earlier administration about how the shot and masks saved lives, however you’ll by no means get them to confess they have been fallacious in imposing it on individuals like CW3 Budge who’s dropping his profession over it.”
“Till new senior Pentagon management put in place by President Trump begins the method of really relieving the senior officers who broke the regulation,” Dr. Spears stated, “they’re going to have these similar senior officers working to undermine the efforts of the President and Protection Secretary to make issues proper for navy members.”
For Dr. Spears, “We’re previous the purpose of claiming the Trump Administration inherited a large number on the Pentagon. We’re previous the purpose of grace. If Normal George and the opposite forged of characters received’t take private motion to make a conditions like CW3 Budge’s proper, then they have to be proven the door.”
Others within the navy neighborhood additionally reacted strongly to the letters despatched by Phelps and the shortage of concern by senior navy officers.
Lt. Col. Theresa Lengthy, an Military slight surgeon and whistleblower, stated “what they’ve accomplished to [CW3 Brandon Budge] and his household is an absolute shame!”
I do know CW3 Brandon Budge and what they’ve accomplished to him and his household is an absolute shame! There is no such thing as a accountability in our navy and the identical “leaders” that destroyed the lives and careers of tens of 1000’s of servicemembers are nonetheless in management positions and… https://t.co/bBa6Llc5j4
— Theresa M Lengthy, MD, MPH, FS (@LTCTheresaLong) June 14, 2025
Retired Navy Medical Service Corps officer Lt. Ted Macie, additionally a whistleblower, discovered “it’s disgraceful that doing the suitable factor apparently hinges on public strain somewhat than precept.”
The denial of CW3 Budge’s BCMR report correction and the continued refusal to grant him reduction converse volumes. All we’ve heard is discuss and never a shred of significant motion.
It’s disgraceful that doing the suitable factor apparently hinges on public strain somewhat than precept.…
— Ted (@ted_macie) June 15, 2025
Retired U.S. Air Power Colonel Tom “Buzz” Rempfer, writer of Unyielding: Marathons Against Illegal Mandates, inspired numerous navy workplaces and officers to behave “promptly” and “take away adversarial personnel actions associated to the illegal COVID mandate and treatment profession setbacks.”
@DoD_USD_PR – please act on this Warrant Officer’s case promptly – give this pilot the boldness you’re on it, doing all of your job – please present some outreach.@SecDef – please guarantee @DeptofDefense implements your 23 APR 25 directive to take away adversarial personnel actions associated… https://t.co/josLc2qfNY
— Thomas Rempfer (@rempfer_thomas) June 16, 2025
Dr. Spears inspired readers to share Budge’s story on X, utilizing the hashtag #RescueAndRestore.
