On August 26, 2022, the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals issued a long-awaited decision regarding Executive Order 14042, entitled "Ensuring Adequate COVID Safety Protocols for Federal Contractors," which directed federal agencies to include a COVID-19 vaccination mandate in new federal government contracts, renewals, and extensions of existing contracts, and, where possible, existing contracts. While the appeals court agreed with the Georgia district court that the Executive Order exceeded the President's authority, the appellate court concluded that the nationwide injunction was too broad. As a result, the Biden Administration is no longer prevented from enforcing Executive Order 14042 in states not subject to a court injunction.
Background
On September 9, 2021, President Biden issued Executive Order 14042. On September 24, 2021, the Safer Federal Workforce Task Force issued guidance implementing the Executive Order's requirements, which are available here: https://www.saferfederalworkforce.gov/contractors/.
Several lawsuits were filed challenging President Biden's authority to issue Executive Order 14042. While several courts concluded that the President lacked authority to issue Executive Order 14042, only one federal district court in Georgia issued a nationwide injunction preventing enforcement. The Georgia district court decision was appealed to the Eleventh Circuit.
Eleventh Circuit Decision
In its decision, the appeals court concluded that President Biden exceeded his authority by issuing the vaccine mandate in Executive Order 14042:
In short, the President's authority to issue Executive Order 14042, and executive agencies' authority to implement it, depend on whether Congress delegated the power to require widespread vaccination through the Procurement Act. All signs suggest that Congress has retained this power rather than passing it on. Agencies' bare authority to set contract specifications and terms is not enough to show that when Congress passed the Procurement Act, it contemplated the general power to mandate vaccination.
Nevertheless, in assessing the scope of the nationwide injunction, the court concluded that it was overboard. Thus, the court limited the injunction to: (1) the seven plaintiff States – i.e., Alabama, Georgia, Idaho, Kansas, South Carolina, Utah, and West Virginia – and (2) members of Associated Builders and Contractors.
What's Next?
By limiting the scope of the nationwide injunction, this means that nothing prevents the Biden Administration from enforcing Executive Order 14042 in states where it is not enjoined from enforcement. In addition to the seven states above, 14 other states have already successfully obtained injunctions, including: Missouri, Nebraska, Alaska, Arkansas, Iowa, Montana, New Hampshire, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wyoming, Kentucky, Tennessee, Ohio, and Florida.
The problem, however, is that courts in other states, including Texas, California, and Washington, refused to issue injunctions because of the nationwide injunction, which has now been restricted in its application. It is unclear whether these or other cases will be revived in light of the recent appellate case.
Bottom Line
At present, there are 21 states where the Biden Administration is prevented from enforcing Executive Order 14042: (1) Alabama, (2) Alaska, (3) Arkansas, (4) Florida, (5) Georgia, (6) Idaho, (7) Iowa, (8) Kansas, (9) Kentucky, (10) Missouri, (11) Montana, (12) Nebraska, (13) North Dakota, (14) New Hampshire, (15) Ohio, (16) South Carolina, (17) South Dakota, (18) Tennessee, (19) Utah, (20) West Virginia, (21) Wyoming. The administration is also enjoined from enforcing Executive Order 14042 against members of Associated Builders and Contractors.
It is too soon to tell whether the administration will attempt to enforce Executive Order 14042 in other states. As of the August 31, 2022, the Safer Federal Workforce Task Force has not yet updated its website to account for the Eleventh Circuit ruling. However, federal contractors in other states should consider preparing for a resumption in federal enforcement.
SMACNA will continue to monitor this issue as it develops.
