Twelve US states with Republican governors are suing the Biden administration in a bid to block a COVID-19 vaccine mandate for federal contractors, arguing it is unconstitutional and violates federal procurement law.
US President Joe Biden issued a pair of executive orders on September 9 requiring all executive branch federal employees and federal contractors be vaccinated, saying vaccines were necessary to fight COVID-19.
"We're going to protect vaccinated workers from unvaccinated coworkers," Mr Biden said.
Ten US states — Arkansas, Alaska, Missouri, Iowa, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wyoming — filed a joint lawsuit in the US District Court for the Eastern District Of Missouri on Friday.
Texas filed a separate suit on the same issue, and Florida filed one on Thursday.
The lawsuits on Friday described the mandate as "sweeping in its scope" and "unconstitutional and unlawful", citing a constitutional amendment on state powers and federal laws on government procurement.
In a video on Twitter, Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds said the mandate was "an abuse of power and we won't stand for it".
"It will only worsen the workforce shortage and supply chain issues that hinder our economic recovery and it furthers the unprecedented government intrusion into our lives," she said.
The White House set a December 8 deadline for employees of federal contractors to be vaccinated. However, it has signalled contractors have flexibility in enforcing that deadline.
US courts have largely upheld vaccination requirements imposed by employers, universities, states and cities.
About 58 per cent of the US population is fully vaccinated and more than 66 per cent of Americans have received one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
ABC/wires
