A federal judge in Georgia blocked Biden's vaccine mandate for federal contractors nationwide

A federal judge in Georgia on Tuesday blocked the Biden administration’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate for federal contractors across the country.

U.S. District Judge R. Stan Baker, an appointee of former President Trump, acknowledged the impact COVID-19 has had on Americans across the country, but cited executive overreach and a lack of congressional approval as reasons for his ruling.

“The Court acknowledges the tragic toll that the COVID-19 pandemic has wrought throughout the nation and the globe,” Baker wrote in a 28-page ruling. “However, even in times of crisis this Court must preserve the rule of law and ensure that all branches of government act within the bounds of their constitutionally granted authorities.”

"While the Procurement Act explicitly and unquestionably bestows some authority upon the President, the Court is unconvinced, at this state of the litigation, that it authorized him to direct the type of actions by agencies that are contained in EO 14042,” he added.

Last week, U.S. District Judge Gregory Van Tatenhove for the Eastern District of Kentucky issued a less far-reaching injunction that blocked the federal contractor mandate in Kentucky, Ohio and Tennessee.

Tuesday’s ruling by Baker, however, extended the ruling to all 50 states and Washington, D.C.

His ruling is yet another example of Republican-appointed judges blocking the Biden administration’s proposed pandemic response measures.

So far, all vaccine mandates for private business, healthcare workers and federal contractors have been blocked by the courts.