Conservatives Rejoice After Supreme Court Strikes Down OSHA's Vaccine Mandate: 'A Win for the Constitution'

Hannah BleauJanuary 13, 2022

Conservatives rejoiced after the Supreme Court on Thursday rejected President Biden’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) vaccine mandate affecting over 84 million American workers, deeming it a “win for the Constitution.”

In a 6-3 decision, the Court blocked Biden’s OSHA vaccine mandate, which would have required employers with 100 or more employees to either mandate the vaccine or implement rigorous testing requirements. Notably, under OSHA’s rule, the burden of the cost of testing would remain on the employee, effectively amounting to a work tax. However, the court upheld the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) vaccine mandate 5-4, although it explicitly acknowledged that the CMS mandate exempts employees who object to the vaccine for religious or medical reasons.

Conservatives celebrated the OSHA ruling, particularly, following the verdict.

Ambassador Ken Blackwell, who is now a senior fellow at the Family Research Council, celebrated the OSHA decision, calling it a “constitutional smack-down of Biden’s imperial power grab.” He criticized the CMS decision, but added, “Most people who object to the vaccine do so for religious or medical reasons, so the Supreme Court’s affirming that those people are exempt from the CMS mandate is a silver lining here.”

“It took the Supreme Court to set the record straight for the Biden Administration,” Sen. Kevin Cramer (R-ND) said following the ruling, deeming it a “win for the Constitution.”

“It’s also a win for personal liberties and our economy, which has been ravaged by Joe Biden’s inflation and supply chain crises,” he said:

It took the Supreme Court to set the record straight for the Biden Administration.

This is a win for the Constitution. It’s also a win for personal liberties and our economy, which has been ravaged by Joe Biden’s inflation and supply chain crises. https://t.co/PEcuj7iBne

— Sen. Kevin Cramer (@SenKevinCramer) January 13, 2022

“The Supreme Court just BLOCKED the Biden admin’s heavy-handed attempt to mandate the COVID-19 vaccine on private employers,” Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-OK) said.

“They agree—The Biden administration has gone too far and it’s time for them to stop,” he declared:

🚨 BREAKING 🚨

The Supreme Court just BLOCKED the Biden admin’s heavy-handed attempt to mandate the COVID-19 vaccine on private employers.

They agree—The Biden administration has gone too far and it’s time for them to stop. https://t.co/cpxxOMw3M5

— Sen. Jim Inhofe (@JimInhofe) January 13, 2022

Sen. Steve Daines (R-MT) deemed the Court’s OSHA ruling a “BIG win for small businesses, workers and freedom,” although he expressed disappointment in the CMS verdict:

Very disappointing to see #SCOTUS uphold @JoeBiden‘s overreaching vaccine mandate for healthcare workers.

It’s threatening Montana hospitals and limiting patient access to essential care. I won’t stop working to protect our healthcare heroes against this harmful mandate.

— Steve Daines (@SteveDaines) January 13, 2022

“Today’s Supreme Court ruling sends a clear message: Biden is not a king & his gross overreaches of federal power will not be tolerated,” Florida Sen. Rick Scott (R-FL) said in reaction to the news.

“I had COVID & got the vaccine, but I will NEVER support a vaccine mandate that bullies hardworking Americans & kills jobs,” he added:

Today’s Supreme Court ruling sends a clear message: Biden is not a king & his gross overreaches of federal power will not be tolerated. I had COVID & got the vaccine, but I will NEVER support a vaccine mandate that bullies hardworking Americans & kills jobs. https://t.co/LstSZov6QM

— Rick Scott (@SenRickScott) January 13, 2022

Rep. Ronny Jackson (R-TX) also celebrated the Court’s OSHA decision and promised to “keep fighting for our healthcare heroes who were ignored today.”

“You continue to SAVE LIVES. We won’t give up!” he exclaimed:

We will keep fighting for our healthcare heroes who were ignored today. You continue to SAVE LIVES. We won’t give up!

— Ronny Jackson (@RonnyJacksonTX) January 13, 2022

Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) also deemed the OSHA ruling a “huge win for freedom,” as others — both politicians and political figures — offered similar sentiments:

The Supreme Court’s ruling blocking OSHA’s COVID vaccine mandate is a huge win for freedom.

— Sen. Marsha Blackburn (@MarshaBlackburn) January 13, 2022

#BREAKING: In a big win for the American people, the US Constitution, and for freedom, the Supreme Court has blocked President Biden’s OSHA vaccine mandate. #SCOTUS pic.twitter.com/UqjjWwy4dI

— Mike Lee (@SenMikeLee) January 13, 2022

💥 BOOM.

Major victory for the rule of law. https://t.co/PjZ1lwFocs

— Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) January 13, 2022

VICTORY. https://t.co/fp7oMT1Umy

— House Judiciary GOP (@JudiciaryGOP) January 13, 2022

Freedom! https://t.co/1nToQZxyCq

— Rep. Jim Jordan (@Jim_Jordan) January 13, 2022

#SCOTUS ruling is a big win for Americans and for freedom. It’s a big loss for Pres. Biden and big government. To know there are 100 million workers in this country that work for private companies that are no longer subject to this mandate is a good thing for our economy. pic.twitter.com/hsBQtXZ8ZU

— Sen. John Barrasso (@SenJohnBarrasso) January 13, 2022

I applaud #SCOTUS for halting the one-size-fits-all vaccine mandate on employers. While vaccines are important & play a role in fighting this pandemic, I don’t support vaccine mandates. I strongly encourage those not currently vaccinated to consult with their doctor & consider it https://t.co/iVzqMB6OUv

— French Hill (@RepFrenchHill) January 13, 2022

Great news for our nation as we fight dueling supply chain and inflation crises! https://t.co/HUCNnqx5ew

— Rep. Andy Harris, MD (@RepAndyHarrisMD) January 13, 2022

SCOTUS strikes down Biden’s OSHA vaccine mandate that would force employers with 100+ employees to mandate vaxx. Let’s goooo, Brandon!!!!!

— Liz Wheeler (@Liz_Wheeler) January 13, 2022

🚨BREAKING🚨 SCOTUS just stopped the Biden admin from enforcing its unlawful OSHA vaccine mandate, which targeted private businesses.

We welcome this action & now urge the 6th Circuit to provide longstanding protection to the 80M workers who are subject to this abuse of power.

— Alliance Defending Freedom (@ADFLegal) January 13, 2022

Biden’s OSHA vax mandate for private sector employees has always been unconstitutional. Now, it’s unenforceable: Supreme Court just blocked it.

Huge win for workers’ rights; huge blow to the tyranny of the administrative state.

The regime was wrong. @GovRonDeSantis was right.

— Christina Pushaw 🐊 (@ChristinaPushaw) January 13, 2022

🚨BREAKING🚨

SCOTUS has halted the Biden administration’s OSHA vaccine mandate.

This a GREAT step in stopping these mandates for good.

— Rep Andy Biggs (@RepAndyBiggsAZ) January 13, 2022

Biden released a statement after the ruling, expressing disappointment in the Court’s decision to block the OSHA mandate, deeming the requirements a “very modest burden.” However, he celebrated the Supreme Court’s decision to uphold the CMS mandate:

As a result of the Court’s decision, it is now up to States and individual employers to determine whether to make their workplaces as safe as possible for employees, and whether their businesses will be safe for consumers during this pandemic by requiring employees to take the simple and effective step of getting vaccinated.

“The Court has ruled that my administration cannot use the authority granted to it by Congress to require this measure, but that does not stop me from using my voice as President to advocate for employers to do the right thing to protect Americans’ health and economy,” he added, calling on businesses to “immediately join those who have already stepped up – including one third of Fortune 100 companies – and institute vaccination requirements to protect their workers, customers, and communities.”

The applications are NFIB v. OSHA, No. 21A244 at the Supreme Court of the United States, and Biden v. Missouri, No. 21A240 in the Supreme Court of the United States.