A Louisiana Federal Judge Blocks COVID Vaccine Mandate

Image source: CNNA

Many people consider this new development is a setback to the Biden administration.

Louisiana federal judge has ruled that President Joe Biden cannot require a COVID vaccine mandate for the teachers in the ‘Head Start’ early education program. Head Start is a federally funded program designed to promote education for children under the age of six and who are from low-income families.

This ruling is widely considered a victory for 24 states that had sued the federal government. Earlier, Biden has ordered that workers in the Head Start must have COVID vaccine by January 31. But Many constitutional experts earlier said that this move was against the constitution and unlawfully bypassed Congress by ordering then.

That order also noted that students two years or older should wear masks indoors or in close contact outdoors. The U.S. district judge, Terry Doughty, wrote that the Biden administration is “unlawfully bypassed Congress.”

The Republican attorney general was among the 24 states that sued the Biden administration. Judge Doughty is an appointee of former President Donald Trump.

Doughty wrote that the separation of powers is crucial to the country’s founding and quoted former President Ronald Reagan, “the nine most terrifying words in the English language are, ‘I’m from the government and I’m here to help.”

Saturday’s ruling affects Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Wyoming, and West Virginia.

Alabama Attorney General Marshall said that the victory would help ensure that numerous Head Start programs operate. But at this point, it is not clear whether the federal government will appeal the decision.