1000’s of vax-mandate ‘fed’beats

Thousands of federal workers ignored President Biden’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate, with thousands more seeking exceptions from the policy, according to data released by the White House Wednesday.

Biden’s mandate impacts roughly 3.5 million civilian and military employees and the Office of Management and Budget said 92 percent of those workers got at least one shot by a Tuesday deadline. By comparison, 82.1 percent of all US adults have had at least one shot.

Of the remaining federal workers, OMB said 4.5 percent (approximately 157,500) sought exceptions for religious or medical reasons — or requested more time to comply — and another 3.5 percent (approximately 122,500) broke the rule without asking permission.

The Transportation Department, led by Secretary Pete Buttigieg, had the highest compliance rate at 99.6 percent, though only 90.6 percent of workers had at least one shot and another 9 percent sought an exception or extension.

Despite thousands of workers disregarding the mandate, the OMB insisted the data showed its “successful implementation.”

Noting the mandate covered “the largest workforce” in the US and led to no “disruptions to critical services,” OMB said it shows “these requirements work.” It said it led to higher vax rates, “a safer, more productive, and efficient workforce.”

Members of the US civil service are nearly impossible to fire. With the Tuesday deadline passed, the White House said that “agencies are beginning a period of education and counseling, followed by additional enforcement steps” that could include discipline.