Biden says he's 'disappointed' the Supreme Court blocked his 'common-sense' employer vaccine mandate

published 13 January 2022

Following the Supreme Court's 6-3 decision against his large employer vaccine-or-testing mandate but in favor of a mandate for health care workers, President Biden issued a response commenting on the Thursday ruling.

"Today's decision by the Supreme Court to uphold the requirement for health care workers will save lives," Biden wrote, "the lives of patients who seek care in medical facilities, as well as the lives of doctors, nurses, and others who work there."

However, the president said he is "disappointed that the Supreme Court has chosen to block common-sense life-saving requirements for employees at large businesses that were grounded squarely in both science and the law." He noted that his administration's policy was designed to allow employees at large companies to opt out of vaccination, so long as they tested once a week and wore a mask at work. "A very modest burden," Biden said.

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Brigid Kennedy worked at The Week from 2021 to 2023 as a staff writer, junior editor and then story editor, with an interest in U.S. politics, the economy and the music industry.

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