Supreme Court halts Biden’s expansive vaccine rule in split ruling

In a decision that’s got Washington buzzing, the U.S. Supreme Court just delivered a sharp rebuke to the former Biden administration’s sweeping vaccine mandate for large employers, while giving a nod to a narrower rule for healthcare workers as Pharmaphorum.com reports.

The High Court, in a pair of rulings, blocked a broad mandate from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) affecting 84 million workers, yet upheld a Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) requirement for healthcare staff.

Let’s start with the big punch: the OSHA mandate at issue would have forced businesses with 100 or more employees to ensure vaccinations or enforce masking and regular testing, sparing only fully remote or outdoor workers. This was the centerpiece of former President Joe Biden’s COVID-19 strategy, a plan to tackle a national vaccination rate languishing at just 63%. And now, it’s been knocked out cold by a 6-3 vote in the case NFIB v. OSHA.

Court draws line on power grab

The conservative majority, led by Justice Neil Gorsuch, didn’t mince words, arguing that OSHA overstepped its authority with a rule that looked more like a legislative power grab than workplace safety. Gorsuch wrote, “The question before us is not how to respond to the pandemic, but who holds the power to do so.” Well, turns out, it’s not OSHA — not when it comes to governing the lives of millions outside specific workplace hazards.

The Court made a clear distinction: OSHA can handle occupational risks, but it’s not the nanny state for general life dangers such as a virus that lurks everywhere. This isn’t about doubting the agency’s good intentions, but about keeping federal overreach in check—something conservatives have been sounding the alarm on for years. Leave it to states or Congress, the majority said, not unelected bureaucrats.

Of course, the liberal dissenters saw it differently, claiming OSHA’s mandate fits squarely within its mission to ensure “safe and healthful working conditions.” They argued there’s no legal basis to split hairs between workplace and general hazards. But let’s be real: stretching OSHA’s power to cover every aspect of life sounds like a progressive wish list, not a constitutional limit.

Healthcare mandate survives legal test

In the second ruling, in the case of Biden v. Missouri, the Court upheld the CMS mandate, allowing federal funding to be withheld from healthcare providers who don’t vaccinate their staff. The justices reasoned this falls within long-established agency powers, especially given the “unprecedented circumstances” of a global pandemic.

Here’s the rub: the Court admitted that agencies can’t exceed what Congress grants them, but saw the CMS rule as fitting snugly within its historical authority. It’s a win for Biden on a smaller scale, sure, but hardly the sweeping victory he was banking on.

Contrast that with the OSHA smackdown, and you’ve got a mixed bag for the administration. Biden, in a briefing before the rulings, called the crisis a “pandemic of the unvaccinated.” Nice soundbite, Mr. President, but mandating your way out of it just hit a constitutional wall.

Biden’s strategy takes major hit

Biden also touted stats from United Airlines, noting that before its vaccine requirement, it lost an employee a week to COVID-19. After? A 99% vaccination rate, zero deaths, and zero hospitalizations in over eight weeks despite thousands testing positive.

Impressive numbers, no question, but as Biden himself admitted, “As long as we have tens of millions who will not get vaccinated, we’re going to have full hospitals and needless deaths.” True enough, but forcing compliance through federal mandates isn’t the magic fix when the Supreme Court says ‘not so fast.’

This OSHA ruling is a gut punch to an administration already struggling to rally a divided nation on vaccination. It’s not just about policy; it’s about trust in government overreach, a skepticism many Americans — especially on the right — have held for decades.

Conservative values meet practical limits

For those of us who value personal freedom over federal edicts, the Court’s decision on OSHA feels like a breath of fresh air. It’s a reminder that even in a crisis, the Constitution isn’t a suggestion — it’s the guardrail against well-meaning but overzealous policies.

Yet, let’s not ignore the other side: the CMS ruling shows there’s room for targeted measures when they’re within clear legal bounds, especially in high-stakes settings like healthcare. It’s not about rejecting science; it’s about rejecting one-size-fits-all solutions that trample on state and individual rights.

So, where does this leave us? The former Biden administration’s grand plan to vaccinate America through workplace mandates has been clipped, but the fight over how to handle this pandemic or future ones is far from over. One thing’s clear: when it comes to balancing liberty and safety, the Supreme Court just drew a line — and it’s one worth watching.