Federal Judge Halts Biden’s Vaccine Mandates In 10 US States

A judge halted President Joe Biden’s COVID-19 vaccine mandates for healthcare workers. US District Judge Matthew Schelp ordered the halt of Biden’s vaccine mandates.

This allows attorneys general of the 10 states to pursue their case against the mandate.

RELATED: 10 States Sue Biden Over Vaccine Mandates For Healthcare Workers

Judge Stops Biden’s Vaccine Mandates in 10 States

In a 32-page order, Schlep gave his decision. “The scale falls clearly in favor of healthcare facilities operating with some unvaccinated employees, staff, trainees, students, volunteers, and contractors, rather than the swift, irremediable impact of requiring healthcare facilities to choose between two undesirable choices — providing substandard care or providing no healthcare at all,” he wrote.

Ten states joined together to sue the Biden administration over the rule. These are Alaska, Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, North and South Dakota, and Wyoming.

It applies to health workers in hospitals that receive Medicare or Medicaid funding. Earlier, Biden argued that health workers need to vaccinate themselves first. This can also help prevent the spread of COVID among health workers.

Vaccine Mandates Exceed Biden’s Authority

However, judge Schelp said that the vaccine mandates exceeded Biden’s authority. This gives the ten states a temporary victory.

It also gives them time to pursue the case as it goes through the judicial system. “Congress did not clearly authorize CMS to enact this politically and economically vast, federalism-altering, and boundary-pushing mandate, which Supreme Court precedent requires,” Schelp wrote.

Meanwhile, the ten states sued the administration shortly after the order was issued. They argued that the vaccine mandates encroached on states' rights.

In addition, the order can worsen current health care worker shortages. The order affects more than 17 million health workers nationwide.

They also work in about 76,000 health care facilities across the US. In addition, the mandates also cover home health care providers. These are also funded by government health programs.

OSHA Suspends Vaccine Mandates For Private Employers Earlier

Schelp’s ruling comes days after the Occupational Safety and Health Administration halted a separate mandate. OSHA announced a suspension of vaccine mandates for private employers.

Another federal court ordered a temporary halt to this specific mandate. As a result, the agency halted any further action to implement the regulations. 

According to a Department of Labor official, “OSHA is complying with the 5th Circuit’s stay. OSHA is not enforcing or implementing the [regulation]. So, they are not engaging or offering compliance assistance,” the official said. 

Healthcare Workers Dodge January 4 Deadline

Without the stoppage order from Judge Schelp, healthcare workers face a January 4, 2022 deadline to complete their vaccination. If they choose to remain unvaccinated, the federal government wants them relieved.

“What the court said today was that the Biden administration has no authority, there’s no statutory authority for them to do this – none whatsoever,” Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt said on Monday.

“If you talk to the men and women in the healthcare field, who by the way a year ago were being honored as heroes and are threatened to be put on the unemployment line, they welcome this news,” Schmitt added.

Additionally, Schmitt said that Missouri was “the first state to file suit against this mandate. This was an egregious overreach. We’re fighting back and winning. More to come,” he added.

Watch the KSDK News video reporting that a federal judge’s ruling halts federal vaccine mandate for health care workers in 10 states:

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Do you agree with the vaccine mandates requiring healthcare workers to complete their vaccinations by January 4, 2022? Or, do you think that the federal government is overstepping its boundaries in forcing people to get vaccinated?

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