Federal appeals court blocks Biden's vaccine mandate for big companies

What vaccine mandate means for firms and workers

The Biden administration's sweeping new COVID-19 mandate would apply to 84 million workers at mid-size and large companies.

NEW ORLEANS - A federal appeals court on Saturday temporarily halted the Biden administration's vaccine requirement for businesses with 100 or more workers.

The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals granted an emergency stay of the requirement by the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration that those workers be vaccinated by Jan. 4 or face mask requirements and weekly tests.

Louisiana Attorney General Landry said the action stops President Joe Biden "from moving forward with his unlawful overreach."

Biden announces sweeping new vaccine mandates for 100 million Americans

Speaking at the White House, Biden sharply criticized the roughly 80 million Americans who are not yet vaccinated, despite months of availability and incentives.

"The president will not impose medical procedures on the American people without the checks and balances afforded by the constitution," Landry said in a statement.

At least 27 states filed lawsuits challenging the rule in several circuits, some of which were made more conservative by the judicial appointments of former Republican President Donald Trump.

President Joe Biden pleads with parents to get children vaccinated

President Joe Biden addressed the country after U.S. health officials signed off on five to 11 year old getting the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine.

The Biden administration has been encouraging widespread vaccinations as the quickest way to end the pandemic that has claimed more than 750,000 lives in the United States.

The administration says it is confident that the requirement, which includes penalties of nearly $14,000 per violation, will withstand legal challenges in part because its safety rules pre-empt state laws.

The 5th Circuit, based in New Orleans, said it was delaying the federal vaccine requirement because of potential "grave statutory and constitutional issues" raised by the plaintiffs. The government must provide an expedited reply to the motion for a permanent injunction Monday, followed by petitioners' reply on Tuesday.