The Supreme Court’s Ruling on Vaccine Mandates Threatens the Federal Government’s Ability To Protect Public Health

Casual observers might think the Supreme Court’s ruling in National Federation of Business vs Department of Labor “temporarily” blocking OSHA’s vaccine-or-test mandate for large businesses is a major blow to President Biden’s Covid-19 vaccine strategy. It is. The OSHA mandate was the president’s last, and best, shot at significantly boosting America’s lagging vaccination rate. But the justices’ ruling has far deeper implications for the federal government’s ability to protect the public’s health and safety, ranging from occupational health to safe food and drugs, and environmental protection. If it’s followed through, the Court’s legal logic could make it nearly impossible for federal regulators to promote the general welfare of the public.

Read the op-ed here.