Atty. Gen. Ashley Moody has filed a lawsuit on behalf of the State of Florida against the Biden administration. The lawsuit is filed on grounds that an order requiring employees of firms that do business with the federal government to receive COVID-19 vaccinations by Dec. 8 or risk losing their jobs is unconstitutional. The complaint, which was filed in the Middle District of Florida was announced by Gov. Ron DeSantis during a press conference in Lakeland, Fla. on Oct. 28.
“We just made very clear that there are these heavy-handed mandates that are being hung over people’s heads that threaten to deprive them of being able to earn a living,” DeSantis said. “In the State of Florida you have a right to earn a living and it should not be denied to you because of these shots.”
The complaint also outlines how the mandate harms the State of Florida particularly its universities, Space Florida, and the Florida Department of Education which perform “important work for the federal government financed through federal contracts.”
According to Moody, the administration including those overseeing entities that hire federal contractors has no authority to require or enforce such a mandate.
“They have absolutely no authority to mandate vaccines for everyone,” Moody said. “The federal government has overstepped its bounds – there’s not a precedent for this (mandate) because it is unlawful.”
The lawsuit asks the court to set aside the mandate order and prohibit those who hire federal contractors from enforcing the vaccine mandate.
DeSantis said that he expects the court to find in Florida’s favor.
“I think we’ve a great chance of success, and hopefully provide a lot of relief to thousands and thousands of Floridians who find their livelihoods in jeopardy due to federal mandates, he said. “Tossing people aside is just not something we can tolerate here in the state of Florida.”
The case remains pending.
