On May 1, 2023, President Joe Biden’s administration announced its intent to end certain COVID-19 vaccination requirements, including the mandate on federal contractors. According to the announcement, President Biden will soon issue an executive order rescinding vaccine requirements and COVID-19 safety protocols for federal contractors, effective at 12:01 a.m. on May 12.

The Biden administration had already stopped enforcing these requirements due to a successful legal challenge led by ABC and seven states. On Aug. 26, 2022 the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit issued a decision narrowing the December 2021 nationwide preliminary injunction granted by the Georgia District Court to only ABC members who bid on federal contracts and the state plaintiffs in the case. However, the Biden administration later announced it would continue its pause on enforcement nationwide. The 2021 injunction was a direct result of ABC intervening as the lone business group challenging the federal contractor vaccine mandate, along with the seven plaintiff state governments.

May 12, 2023, Update:

• On May 9, 2023, President Biden signed an Executive Order on Moving Beyond COVID-19 Vaccination Requirements for Federal Workers revoking Executive Orders 14042 and 14043, effective 12:01 a.m. ET on May 12, 2023.
• Effective May 12, 2023, all prior guidance from the Safer Federal Workforce Task Force implementing the requirements of Executive Orders 14042 and 14043, and the FAR Council’s September 30, 2021, guidance regarding deviations to the FAR to implement Executive Order 14042, has also been revoked.
• Updates to FAQs on Contractors, Leave and Vaccination
• Updated overview for Federal Contractors