Opposing Biden, SC’s McMaster bans Cabinet agencies from enforcing COVID vaccine mandate
South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster issued an executive order barring his Cabinet directors from enforcing any COVID-19 vaccine mandate on their employees, directly opposing the Biden administration’s mandate to vaccinate or test weekly in businesses with at least 100 workers.
“There should be no mandates. People have ample access to the vaccine,” McMaster told reporters Thursday at the State House. “People have reasons to take the vaccine, and reasons not to. Federal mandates on such a thing have never been done in our history.”
McMaster’s order also requires that all state agencies report to him if the federal government inquires about the vaccination status of employees.
It was not immediately clear exactly how many South Carolina employees his order would affect, though it’s in the thousands.
Tens of millions of Americans who work at companies with 100 or more employees will need to be vaccinated against COVID-19 by Jan. 4 or get tested for the virus weekly under government rules issued Thursday.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration said companies that fail to comply could face penalties of nearly $14,000 per violation.
The new requirements, which President Joe Biden previewed in September, will apply to about 84 million workers at medium and large businesses, although it is not clear how many of those employees are unvaccinated.
“The virus will not go away by itself, or because we wish it away: we have to act,” Biden said in a statement. “Vaccination is the single best pathway out of this pandemic. And while I would have much preferred that requirements not become necessary, too many people remain unvaccinated for us to get out of this pandemic for good.”
Tougher rules will apply to another 17 million people who work in nursing homes, hospitals and other facilities that receive money from Medicare and Medicaid. Those workers will not have an option for testing and will need to be vaccinated.
It was unclear how OSHA planned to enforce the rules. A senior administration official said the agency would target companies if it gets complaints.
McMaster called the latest order an overreach by the Biden administration and questioned even if Congress could take the step.
“Business judgment is being overwhelmed and ignored,” McMaster said. “The right of the people, the civil rights are being ignored,” McMaster said.
South Carolina has already joined a lawsuit with seven other states objecting to the requirements that federal contractors mandate vaccines for its workers.
“We’re not saying that people should not get vaccinated. We’re not saying the virus is not dangerous. We don’t know what variant may come later,” McMaster said. “(But) for in the federal government to intrude into the workplace .... is outrageous and is unlawful.”
McMaster reiterated that it should be a private business’ decision whether to require employees to take the COVID-19 vaccine.
“Personally, I do not think it is necessary to have a mandate,” McMaster said. “I don’t think it sends a good message to fire people who cannot get the vaccine.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
This story was originally published November 4, 2021 at 12:23 PM.
