A federal appeals court recently barred the federal government from requiring federal contractors in Kentucky, Ohio and Tennessee to be vaccinated for COVID-19. It's the latest in a series of court decisions that have struck down the vaccination mandate in certain regions.

On Jan. 12, the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals unanimously ruled against the Biden administration, concluding it overstepped its authority when it required federal contractors to get COVID-19 vaccinations. The court called the scope of the mandate "stunning" because 20 percent of the U.S. workforce works for a federal contractor.

The court's decision does not extend beyond the three states involved in the case. The three states said the ruling should apply to federal contractors nationwide, including in states that weren't involved in the lawsuit, but the court rejected that argument.

Large federal contractors include companies like Lockheed Martin, Boeing, General Dynamics, Raytheon and Northrop Grumman.

Background

President Joe Biden issued an executive order on Sept. 9, 2021, stating that government contracts must include a clause specifying that federal contractors must ensure all contractor employees are fully vaccinated for COVID-19, unless the person is legally entitled to an accommodation. The Biden administration said the mandate was justified under the Federal Property and Administrative Services Act of 1949. It argued that requiring contractors to have a vaccinated workforce enhances...

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