A U.S. Air Force fighter pilot with the rank of captain has been suspended and had his access to classified information revoked after refusing to wear a mask due to religious beliefs.

In a letter to Air Force acting Secretary John Roth, the unnamed pilot based in Mississippi accused the military of violating his constitutional right of religious freedom by imposing a mask mandate that has “theoretical and unsubstantiated impacts to military readiness, unit cohesion, good order, discipline, and public health and safety.” He was suspended from duty on May 17 and from flying on June 8 after two previous commanders had ruled that he did not have to wear a mask.