A group consisting of nearly 10,000 federal employees has launched a new lawsuit against the Biden administration for its COVID-19 vaccine mandate, saying the currently paused requirement violates multiple laws that protect religious freedom.
Feds for Medical Freedom brought the complaint against the State Department in the U.S. District Court for Eastern Virginia, with more than a dozen employees there signed on as plaintiffs. State has violated Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act by delaying religious accommodations and allowing discrimination to take place, the group said. It also argued the mandate violated the 1993 Religious Freedom Restoration Act, which places significant restrictions on when the federal government can infringe on individuals’ religious beliefs. While the Biden administration has allowed for religious and medical exemptions to its mandate, the plaintiffs said the implementation of that policy has led to hostile work environments and negative career impacts.
The group previously filed a lawsuit challenging the mandate that focused primarily on the president’s constitutional authority and the Administrative Procedures Act. That effort led to a nationwide injunction on the mandate last year, with enforcement remaining paused as an appeals court is reviewing the case.
In its new case, Feds for Medical Freedom alleged even unvaccinated employees at State who have received a religious exemption from the mandate have been left out of trainings,...
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