Federal judge blocks vaccine requirement for federal contractors, sides with Attorney General Alan Wilson

COLUMBIA, S.C. (WIS) - The COVID-19 vaccine requirement for federal contractors proposed by the Biden administration was blocked by a federal judge Tuesday, according to officials.

Judge Stan Baker of the U.S. Court for the Southern District of Georgia sided with the South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson and issued an injunction against enforcing the vaccine mandate after hearing oral arguments Friday, Dec. 3. According to Wilson’s office, this is the third time the courts have agreed on his stance against the vaccine mandate.

The case was presented by Wilson and South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster, along with the attorneys general of Georgia, Alabama, Idaho, Kansas, Utah, and West Virginia. The governors of Georgia, Alabama, and Idaho were also involved, according to court documents.

Wilson says the rule of law has prevailed and liberty is protected.

“When the President oversteps his authority the law is thankfully there to halt his misuse of power,” Attorney General Wilson said.

McMaster says there is more work to be done, and he will always stand up and protect South Carolinian’s rights.

The lawsuit argues the Biden administration’s mandate is unconstitutional due to violating the Tenth Amendment, which reserves to the states and the people the powers that are not delegated by the Constitution to the federal government.

The lawsuit also states the mandate violates the federal Procurement Act, the Administrative Procedures Act, and the federal Spending Clause, according to officials.

Recently, judges temporarily blocked vaccine mandates for healthcare workers and private companies with 100 or more employees, as well.

The official order of the lawsuit can be found below:

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