Mask mandate also blocked
President Joe Biden’s administration was ordered late Friday to stop mask and vaccine mandates for workers and volunteers of the Head Start program in Texas.
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) likely acted without congressional authorization when it imposed the mandates in response to the president’s push to increase COVID-19 vaccinations, U.S. District Judge James Wesley Hendrix, a Trump nominee, said in a 56-page ruling.
HHS’ Nov. 30 interim final rule said all workers and some volunteers and contractors must get a COVID-19 vaccine and that all volunteers and workers, and children 2 or older, must wear masks. The deadline for vaccination compliance was listed as Jan. 31, 2022, while the masking piece took effect immediately.