Florida files lawsuit against Biden administration's federal worker vaccine mandate
Gov. Ron DeSantis said the state of Florida filed a lawsuit against the Biden administration's order mandating vaccinations for federal workers Thursday.
The announcement came during a news conference in Lakeland, Florida, where DeSantis and Attorney General Ashley Moody said Florida would hold firm that "heavy-handed mandates" would not be tolerated.
Moody said the action is specifically against the Biden administration, NASA, NASA administrator and former Florida Sen. Bill Nelson, The Office of Management and Budget, The Office of Commercial and Economic Analysis and the General Services Administration.
“Just months ago, Joe Biden was saying that it wouldn’t be appropriate or lawful for the federal government to mandate these COVID shots,” DeSantis said. “But now we have somehow gone from 15 days to slow the spread to 3 jabs to keep your job. The federal government is exceeding their power and it is important for us to take a stand because in Florida we believe these are choices based on individual circumstances.”
To read the full lawsuit, click .
DeSantis said workers should not be made to get a COVID-19 vaccine, which he said he believes is a personal choice.
Video above: Gov. DeSantis announces the lawsuit at a news conference
White House official's statement on DeSantis' lawsuit
The White House released the following statement Thursday:
"This is a once in a generation pandemic that has taken the lives of more than 700,000 Americans, and the president has committed to pulling every lever possible to save lives and stop the spread of the virus. Vaccine requirements work: they’re good for workers, good for the economy, and good for the country. The president has authority to protect the federal workforce and promote efficiency in federal contracting in this way. The Department of Justice and Equal Employment Opportunity Commission have already determined that COVID vaccines can be required by employers."
for any federal contractors who don’t comply when the deadline to be fully vaccinated arrives on Dec. 8, those employees will go through education, counseling and receive possible accommodations before there is any enforcement.