Joe Biden’s COVID‑19 Vaccine Mandate Gets a Court‑Bounced Backfire in 10 States
On Monday, a federal judge in St. Louis handed the Biden administration a one‑stop legal roadblock that puts the CMS vaccine requirement on hold for a handful of states. Binder‑clutched states like Missouri, Nebraska and Alaska, among others, won a temporary stay while the court reviews their legal complaints.
What the Rule Was Trying to Do—and Why It’s Getting Flipped
- CMS’s 10‑minute rule: every staff member, volunteer or contractor at a hospital, nursing home or dialysis center must show a first dose of the COVID‑19 shot by Dec. 6 and be fully vaccinated by Jan. 4.
- Failing to comply? The provider could lose Medicare and Medicaid funding.
- Goal: protect patients and the public from a lingering virus pandemic.
- Reality: 10 states argued the move was too heavy on the federal government’s shoulders and could worsen staff shortages. Judge Matthew Schelp, a Trump appointee, agreed with their pitch.
Judge Schelp’s Big Points
He didn’t mince words: “CMS understated the overwhelming cost of its mandate and fed the vaccine hesitancy that the rule is meant to counter.” And more importantly, he said the rule “altered the balance of power between the federal and state governments.” A shout‑out to the Supreme Court’s precedent on federalism‑pushing moves.
Why It’s a Double‑Whammy for Biden
It’s the second hit in a month. Earlier, a New Orleans appeals court knocked down a sweeping workplace rule that would have forced businesses with at least 100 employees to either get vaccinated or get tested every week. The current rule losers are now on the list too.
What This Means for Healthcare Workers
- As long as the court keeps the stay, hospitals, nursing homes and other health facilities can keep doing their jobs without that pressure.
- If the rule were enforced, it’d cost a chunk of the federal payroll, and some workers might be “asked or told” to get the vaccine or lose their jobs.
In fact, 92 percent of federal workers have gotten at least one dose of the COVID‑19 vaccine. That’s a pretty solid bragging factor for the administration.
In Short
Judge Schelp’s ruling temporarily stops the CMS vaccine mandate in 10 states, gives the Biden boss a legal fight to win, and keeps health care workers out of the hot seat—at least for now.
