Biden's OSHA Vaccine Mandate Blocked by Supreme Court

The Supreme Court today blocked the Biden administration from enforcing its sweeping vaccine-or-test requirements for private companies.

The latter, an Occupational Safety and Health Administration rule that took effect on Monday, said that businesses with at least 100 employees needed to require workers to get vaccinated, or get tested weekly and wear a mask.

Although COVID-19 is a risk that occurs in many workplaces, it is not an occupational hazard in most, the Court ruled.

COVID–19 can and does spread at home, in schools, during sporting events, and everywhere else that people gather. That kind of universal risk is no different from the day-to-day dangers that all face from crime, air pollution, or any number of communicable diseases.

For these reasons, the OSHA mandate "would significantly expand" the agency's authority beyond the limits Congress set, the Court ruled.

Biden, in a statement, said the Supreme Court chose to block requirements that are life-saving for workers. Biden called on states and businesses to step up and voluntarily institute vaccination requirements to protect workers, customers, and the broader community.

The Court has ruled that my administration cannot use the authority granted to it by Congress to require this measure, but that does not stop me from using my voice as President to advocate for employers to do the right thing to protect Americans health and economy, Biden said.