( December 14, 2023, 2:11 PM EST) -- WASHINGTON, D.C. — The federal government on Dec. 13 waived its right to respond to a petition for a writ of certiorari filed in the U.S. Supreme Court by former members of the military whose challenge to a COVID-19 vaccine requirement while they were still active members was deemed moot due to their departure from the military and the termination of the mandate....