The U.S. Supreme Court struck down an OSHA rule that would have required COVID-19 vaccinations or testing at businesses with 100 or more employees, the New York Times reported.
The mandate was previously blocked and then lifted by the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Cincinnati after it was first announced by the Biden administration in November 2021.
The Supreme Court’s latest ruling did permit a vaccination mandate for health care workers at facilities receiving federal money.
The OSHA vaccine mandate would have required full vaccination status for businesses with 100 or more employees by Jan. 4, 2022, after which unvaccinated workers at the businesses would have needed to submit negative COVID-19 tests weekly and wear face masks indoors.
The National Association of Home Builders issued a statement in support of the Supreme Court’s ruling.
“NAHB strongly supports the efforts of the federal government to get as many Americans vaccinated as possible and has actively encouraged our members to make vaccines available to their workers,” Chairman Chuck Fowke stated. “But using OSHA as the primary mechanism for this effort exceeds its statutory authority as a workplace safety agency."
