Biden announces federal workers must be vaccinated or face regular tests.

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

Source: New York Times

President Biden on Thursday announced that all civilian federal employees must be vaccinated against the coronavirus or be forced to submit to regular testing, social distancing, mask requirements and restrictions on most travel.

“We all want our lives to get back to normal, and fully vaccinated workplaces will make that happen more quickly and more successfully,” Mr. Biden said, speaking in the East Room. “We all know that in our gut. With incentives and mandates, we can make a huge difference and save a lot of lives.”

The federal government employs more than 4 million Americans, all of whom will need to attest to being fully vaccinated in order to avoid wearing a mask on the job, regardless of where in the country they work, and comply with screening tests once or twice a week.

The president also directed the Defense Department to study how and when to add the coronavirus vaccine to the list of required vaccinations for all members of the military. The announcement marked the first time he has suggested that a mandate could come for active-duty members of the military before any of the three federally authorized vaccines receives full approval from the Food and Drug Administration. And he called on states, territories and local governments to pay $100 to Americans who remain unvaccinated to get their shots.

Read more: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/biden-announces-federal-workers-must-be-vaccinated-or-face-regular-tests/ar-AAMIvFA?li=BBnb7Kz

[zuul]

1. I hope they're given the brain-tickler tests . . .

the one’s that go so far up your nostril that the technician can touch your noodle. After one of those tests, the anti-vaxxers would beg for the shot.

[skylucy]

3. I agree!

[rzemanfl]

2. I am waiting for DeSatan to send me my $100 for getting mine months ago.

Why, pray tell, should the stupid get a reward? I think they should get a $100 fine they can have rescinded by getting vaccinated. It should double every day until they do.

[OneCrazyDiamond]

6. We all benefit.

I bet this was planned long ago. They probably have other incentives planned, before the stick comes out. President Biden will get this done 1 way or another.

[rzemanfl]

10. If COVID isn't an incentive, a c-note will be?

I get to wear a mask again because these idiots won't get vaccinated. Time for the stick IMHO.

[OneCrazyDiamond]

17. For some of the remaining it will be.

We all get to wear a mask again because vaccinated people infected with delta have measurable viral loads similar to those who are unvaccinated and infected with the variant. The risk has risen. Fortunately the vaccine is effective at preventing hospitalization and death. Our President knows this, and I trust him when he encourages this for the unvaxed. I think it would be better if the already vaccinated got $200

[Deminpenn]

4. Reasonable

Doubt many fed civil servants will object. It will be interesting to see how this works at agencies that have both civilian employees and active military like the Pentagon, for example, or any DoD activity. Departments, etc, usually have a military in charge with a civilian deputy. My activity was over 90% civilian where the military did the bulk of travelling.

[Pas-de-Calais]

7. Retired fed in 12/20 here

Fully vaccinated 04/30
There be plenty of feds who will crab, bitch, moan about this.
Same ones who disliked #44. Heard way too many do this back in the day
Believe #46 has informed the contractors something similar

[Deminpenn]

13. I'm sure there'll be some,

but in the federal civil service management holds all the cards. The unions can object, but in my time I saw management do an excellent job of divide and conquer with the bargaining unit members. Most of the bargaining unit employees in my activity felt the union just served to protect those who were lazy, didn't, couldn't or wouldn't do their jobs and deserved to be fired.

There won't be any escaping the consequences of being or remaining unvaccinated in federal offices or buildings.

The federal contractors will comply because they won't risk losing their contracts.

[LetMyPeopleVote]

5. I missed having a real POTUS who cares about people

Link to tweet

[LiberalLovinLug]

8. Heh heh....thats one way to cull the federal workforce of red hats.

I don't care if the GOP try to frame it like that either. I think the public overall will side with common sense, over partisan political conspiracy theories.

OMG the gob'mint is forcing federal workers to stay alive!!!

[MichMan]

9. I thought unvaccinated people were already supposed to wear masks & distance at work?

Why is the federal government just adding this now ?

Isn't that what the CDC and OSHA recommended months ago when the mask mandate for everyone was lifted? That going maskless was OK if and only if you were vaccinated. That is how every place I have entered since then states on the entrances.

Sounds like unvaccinated federal employees were allowed to go maskless anyway in violation of the CDC and OSHA requirements.

[Deminpenn]

14. I think a lot of people are still working from home

but don't know that for a fact.

[Tarc]

11. This is pretty clever

Trying to remove unvaccinated federal employees from their positions would have been a protracted, pitched battle.

This simply places extra safeguards on the unvaccinated, arguably for their own protection. They won't have a legal leg to stand on in objection.

[greymattermom]

15. Are members of Congress

Federal workers?

[djm5971]

16. Vaccines need to be mandated

It's not about freedom, it's about life and death.