Federal Judge R. Stan Baker in Georgia issued a nationwide injunction on the existing vaccine mandate for federal contractors. The judge wrote that the vaccine mandate “would force Plaintiffs to comply with the mandate, requiring them to make decisions which would significantly alter their ability to perform federal contract work which is critical to their operations”.
This is the latest challenge in the administration’s efforts to have a vaccine mandate. Last week, two judges also temporarily blocked separate mandates. A federal judge from Louisiana stopped Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services from having its vaccine mandate on healthcare workers.
On the other hand, a federal judge from Kentucky blocked the vaccine mandate for government contractors in three states.
And last month, a federal appeals court temporarily stopped Biden’s vaccine mandate on US businesses that have at least 100 employees.
Procurement Act
The recent order was based on the Procurement Act. Baker wrote that “While the Procurement Act explicitly and unquestionably bestows some authority upon the President, the Court is unconvinced, at this state of the litigation, that it authorized him to direct the type of actions by agencies that are contained in EO 14042”.
Baker added that the executive order went “beyond the administration and management of procurement and contracting” and operated as “a regulation of public health”.
White House press secretary Jen Psaki said that the Department of Justice will “vigorously defend” the case in court.
Airlines as Federal Contractors
Major airlines are among companies that have federal contracts. Since the announcement of Biden’s executive order, major carriers encouraged their workers to comply with the vaccine mandate. Airline workers were told to either comply or apply for a medical or religious exemption. Unfortunately, airlines announced conflicting messages for those who won’t get the vaccine.
Southwest Airlines announced that 93% of their workers completed their COVID19 vaccine doses. Initially, Southwest said that employees who will not comply will risk losing their job. However, CEO Gary Kelly clarified that “we’re not going to fire any of our employees over this”.
The same with American Airlines, its CEO Doug Parker said that the company will still work with those who can’t meet the vaccine requirement.
Delta is the only airline that refused to follow Biden’s vaccine mandate. Delta’s spokesperson Morgan Durrant said that the company’s approach is working. Delta will charge unvaccinated employees additional $200 per month for their insurance.
