Oversight Republicans Sound Alarm on Biden’s Authoritarian Vaccine Mandate Poised to Jeopardize Local Police, Fire, and Medical Operations
The lawmakers request all information from DoD, GSA, and OMB related to Biden’s executive order
WASHINGTON — Today, House Committee on Oversight and Reform Ranking Member James Comer (R-Ky.) and Oversight Republican lawmakers sent a letter to U.S. Department of Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, General Services Administration Secretary Robin Carnahan, and Office of Management and Budget Acting Director Shalanda Young requesting all information and documents related to the Biden Administration’s Executive Order (E.O.) requiring employees of federal contractors to be vaccinated against COVID-19 or face termination. As the Biden Administration prepares to implement the E.O., the lawmakers express concerns it will jeopardize the operations of local police departments, fire departments, emergency medical systems, and other vital organizations across the country.
“We write to request documents and information about how the Biden Administration is implementing Executive Order 14042. This E.O. requires employees of federal contractors to be vaccinated against COVID-19 infection by December 8, 2021; or lose their jobs and all the benefits associated with them. The E.O. offers very few exemptions. It also does not provide options to be tested regularly. President Biden is forcing these workers to accept Administration-required vaccines or risk losing their entire livelihoods—jobs, pensions, and healthcare plans,” wrote the lawmakers.
“Government contractors and grantees are supporting the U.S. government’s mission across the Nation. They should be celebrated for staying on the job and protecting public safety throughout the COVID-19 pandemic,” continued the lawmakers. “The Biden Administration appears poised to pull the rug out from under their futures, all because of an authoritarian mandate—be vaccinated in all cases or be fired. This is not leadership—this is autocracy. With households still recovering from the economic shutdown, it is not prudent to require employees of federal contractors and federal grantees to be vaccinated or lose their jobs. On the contrary, worker attrition due to vaccine refusal could endanger the adequacy of police, fire and other public safety and community services. Federal services such as defense, border security, and other critical sectors supported by federal contractors could be affected.”
To help Republicans understand the Biden Administration’s plans to implement President Biden’s draconian vaccine mandate for employees of federal contractors or expand it to employees of federal grantees, the lawmakers are requesting all documents and communications related to the executive order, including how it could impact public safety, health, and the supply chain.
Read the full letter here.