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Supreme Court Justices Cast Doubt on Biden Workplace Vaccine Rule

Roberts says Covid is job for states, Congress to address
Two state lawyers argue remotely, citing court’s testing rules

The U.S. Supreme Court during arguments on two federal coronavirus vaccine mandate measures in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 7. — The U.S. Supreme Court during arguments on two federal coronavirus vaccine mandate measures in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 7.
Photographer: Al Drago/Bloomberg

By

Robert Iafolla, and

Kimberly Robinson

January 7, 2022, 5:17 PM UTCUpdated onJanuary 7, 2022, 8:49 PM UTC

The U.S. Supreme Court cast doubt on the linchpin of President Joe Biden’s push to get more people vaccinated amid a Covid-19 surge, questioning whether the Occupational Safety and Health Administration had authority to require that 80 million workers get shots or regular tests.

In a special argument session Friday, the court’s conservative justices voiced skepticism about the rule, which business groups and Republican-led states say exceeds the workplace-safety agency’s authority.