a growing number A Republican-led state is challenging President Joe Biden’s mandate for a vaccine to federal contractors that is set to go into effect in the coming weeks.
A coalition of 10 states filed a lawsuit Friday to demand blocking the base, while Texas filed a separate lawsuit suits. The legal challenges come a day after Florida filed a similar lawsuit.
“The federal government does not have the power to strip individuals of their choice to get a vaccine or not. If the president believes his patience is running out, he is clearly underestimating the impatience of Texas residents whose rights are being violated,” Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton said in a statement Friday.
Missouri and Nebraska attorneys general — Eric Schmidt and Doug Peterson, respectively — filed their lawsuit with eight other states: Alaska, Arkansas, Iowa, Montana, New Hampshire, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wyoming. Officials argue that Biden “exercised authority far beyond what has been delegated to the federal government by constitutional mandate or congressional action.”
The central argument in all three lawsuits is that the administration has no legal grounds to authorize such a blanket requirement and that implementing it would violate federal procurement law.
Biden announced the mandate last month for federal workers and contractors, when he also established a rule requiring regular vaccinations or testing for employees of companies with at least 100 workers. However, federal contractors will not be allowed to opt for testing over vaccination.
Each state is seeking an immediate injunction for the rule, which is due to Comes into effect on December 8.
Public health experts have pointed to vaccinations as the most effective way to combat the coronavirus pandemic.
In September, Biden call him Republican governors to help fight the virus, but they added, “If these governors don’t help us beat the pandemic, I will use my power as president to get them out of the way.”
Several Republican governors have battled the administration over Covid-19 policies, from resisting mask mandates to banning private sector efforts to require proof of vaccination.
Earlier this month, Texas Governor Greg Abbott issued an executive order Prevent any entity, including private companies, from imposing Covid-19 vaccine requirements on employees or customers. Abbott said at the time that vaccinations “should remain voluntary and not be forced.”
