Wyoming will join several other states in suing the federal government over the coronavirus vaccine mandate proposed by President Joe Biden, Gov. Mark Gordon announced Thursday.
Gordon said the state will file a lawsuit as soon as the rules to put Biden’s mandate in place are issued by the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration, a move expected Friday.
“We have prepared for this moment and the attorney general has a strong legal strategy she developed with a coalition of other attorneys general,” Gordon said. “We cannot allow the rights of Wyoming citizens and her industries to be trampled by federal overreach.”
Biden’s proposal would require that all federal workers, health care employees and employees of companies with more than 100 people get the coronavirus vaccine or be tested regularly for the illness.
The details of the rules needed to put the mandate in place were released Thursday.
Under the rules, companies affected by the mandate would have to make sure their employees are vaccinated by Jan. 4.
Wyoming has already challenged an executive order issued by Biden that mandated vaccines for federal contractors.
Gordon’s announcement came one day after Wyoming’s Legislature completed its special session aimed at charting the state’s response to the mandates.
Of the 20 bills proposed for review during the session, only one won final approval. It would prohibit state and local public entities from enforcing a federal mandate, but it would not take effect until a federal court, in response to legal action, blocks the mandate.
