Eleven states filed lawsuits Friday to block President Joe Biden from mandating COVID-19 vaccines on federal contractors, arguing that the measure violates federal law.
Attorneys General from Alaska, Arkansas, North Dakota, South Dakota, Iowa, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire and Wyoming filed the lawsuit in federal court in Missouri.
The states asked a federal judge to block Biden’s requirement that all federal contractor employees be vaccinated against the coronavirus because, they say, that order violates federal procurement law and is an excess of federal power.
“If the federal government unconstitutionally attempts to exercise its will and force federal contractors to demand vaccines, the workforce and businesses could be decimated, further exacerbating crises in supply chains and the hand of work, ”Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt said in a statement. “The federal government should not require vaccination, and that is why we are filing a lawsuit today to stop this illegal and unconstitutional action,” he added.
New Hampshire Attorney General John Formella said in a statement that COVID vaccines are safe, effective and encouraging, but that the benefits “do not justify breaking the law.”
The lawsuit, added to those filed by Texas on Friday and by Florida on Thursday, brings to 12 the total of states that legally challenge the federal government measure.
Biden argues that the vaccination requirement will help end the pandemic, but Republicans nationally reject it.
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