Florida Court Blocks U.S. Contractor Shot Mandate, Seeks Input

A Florida federal court has blocked enforcement of the Biden administration’s Covid-19 vaccine mandate for federal contractors, adding to the string of similar rulings across the country.

The state of Florida challenged Biden’s mandate for companies and state employers that do business with the federal government. It was set to take effect in January but faces a nationwide injunction pending on appeal, as well as several other injunction in other courts.

The U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida on Wednesday granted the state’s request for a preliminary injunction, in part, and asked for the parties to file briefing about its reach and content by Dec. 29.

U.S. District Court Judge Steven Merryday said in his ruling that the state is likely to succeed on the question of whether President Joe Biden exceeded his authority in issuing the executive order.

The federal contractor shot mandate spurred a series of federal lawsuits by other conservative-led states that also seek to block implementation.

The Biden administration mandate would apply to roughly a quarter of the U.S. workforce and affect companies such as Lockheed Martin Corp., Microsoft Corp., Alphabet Inc.‘s Google, and General Motors Co.

The case is Florida v. Biden, M.D. Fla., No. 8:21-cv-02524, 12/22/21.