Judge temporarily blocks Biden vaccine mandate for private firms after Texas sues

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton on Saturday revealed that a federal court had issued a temporary block against the Biden administration's vaccine mandate against private companies after the state brought suit against it. 

Paxton revealed the development on his Twitter accounts. "Yesterday, I sued the Biden Admin over its unlawful OSHA vax mandate," he wrote. "WE WON. Just this morning, citing 'grave statutory and constitutional issues,' the 5th Circuit stayed the mandate.

The court said the stay will hold "pending further action."  

The Biden administration has stated that U.S. businesses with more than 100 employees have until Jan. 4 to implement the administration's vaccine mandate, which includes testing requirements for individuals who decline to receive the vaccination. 

Commentators and experts have warned that the mandate could exacerbate the already-fragile U.S. labor economy, which has been beset by major shortages for much of this year.