May 1, 2023
Today, the Biden Administration announced that it plans to end certain COVID-19 vaccination requirements for federal employees and contractors, aligning with the expiration of the public health emergency relating to coronavirus on Thursday, May 11, 2023.
In September of 2021, federal employees were issued a requirement to receive a vaccine to protect themselves and their coworkers against coronavirus, with exemptions for religious and medical reasons. According to the White House, 97.2 percent of federal workers complied with the mandate.
Since the vaccine requirement was announced, the National Federation of Federal Employees (NFFE) had approached the mandate with a focus on protecting our members from unfair discipline for deciding against receiving the coronavirus vaccine. Our union was successful in representing those within our membership who chose not to comply with the vaccine mandate. To our knowledge, no NFFE member has been formally disciplined for not receiving the COVID vaccine.
“Thank you to our dedicated NFFE members and all of the federal employees who continued to serve the American people throughout the COVID-19 pandemic,” said NFFE National President Randy Erwin. “I applaud your commitment to carrying out the missions of your agencies during an incredibly difficult time. Rest assured that during these types of situations, your union will be there to represent you and protect your rights in the workplace.”